France wins doubles, leads Czechs 2-1 in Davis Cup QFs

On Friday, Rosol prevailed after nearly four hours over Tsonga 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (8), 6-4 to put the Czechs 1-0 ahead before Pouille made a victorious Davis Cup debut for France by beating Vesely 7-6 (2), 6-4, 7-5 to level the tie at 1-1.

Lucas Pouille, ranked 21st, then swept Vesely 7-6 (7/2), 6-4, 7-5 to put France level in his Davis Cup debut.

Defending champion Great Britain took a 2-1 lead over host Serbia.

Nicolas Mahut, left, and Pierre-Hugues Herbert, right, of France celebrate with captain Yannick Noah, center, after beating Jiri Vesely and Radek Stepanek of Czech Republic during their tennis Davis Cup quarterfinal doubles match in Trinec, Czech Republic, Saturday, July 16, 2016.

The victor faces the United States or Croatia in the semifinal in September. “It’s a good start to the weekend but we haven’t won yet”.

France faces the United States or Croatia in the semifinals in September. Ward can win the tie in the first rubber today against Tipsarevic, but if the Serbian veteran wins then it will come down to a deciding match between Edmund and Lajovic, the two teams’ highest-ranked players.

The second singles could not be played on the opening day because of rain and was postponed until Saturday, when it also began an hour later than scheduled.

The French, who were beaten by eventual winners Great Britain at this stage previous year, had fallen behind when Lukas Rosol came through a three-hour, 52-minute clash with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to put the Czechs one up.

In the four-hour opening singles, Rosol converted his third match point with a passing forehand. Pouille served better, had more winners and fewer number of errors, but Vesely did his best to stay in contention as much as he could, saving 10 out of 14 break points he played against. Myneni was leading 6-1, 3-6, 6-4, 3-6, 5-2 when proceedings came to an end.

Tsonga earned a set point at 5-4 in the second set with a backhand volley but wasted it before prevailing in the tiebreaker when Vesely served two straight double faults.

But Tsonga, who is 31, regained his first serve in the second set and took a 2-1 lead with a break in each set.

In the fourth set, Tsonga survived three break points in game six and broke again five games later to win the rubber.

“I didn’t play well, I’m sorry, I didn’t find my rhythm, my composure”, said Vesely. “It’s a huge weapon”.

On Saturday, Czech players Radek Stepanek and Adam Pavlasek will face the now best doubles pair and Wimbledon winners, Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert.

A week after beating Julien Benneteau and Edouard Roger-Vasselin in straight sets to clinch the Wimbledon title, Mahut and Herbert needed five sets on the indoor hard court for a victory that puts France one win away from a Davis Cup semifinal.