Herbert/Mahut Score Clutch Win For France

CZECH REPUBLIC 1, FRANCE 2

Venue: Werk Arena, Trinec, CZE (hard – indoor)

Wimbledon champions and World No. 1 duo Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut gave France a 2-1 lead in Trinec as they edged Lukas Rosol and Radek Stepanek 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in just over three hours. The 25-year-old Herbert was making his Davis Cup debut, one week after he and Mahut captured their second Grand Slam championship title at the All England Club. 

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will have the chance to clinch the tie for France when he faces Jiri Vesely on Sunday in the first of the reverse singles. Nine-time champion France is bidding to win the Davis Cup crown for the first time since 2001. Two years ago, they were beaten by Switzerland in the final.

SERBIA 1, GREAT BRITAIN 2

Venue: Tasmajdan Stadium, Belgrade, SRB (clay – outdoor)

After rain brought a premature end to Friday’s proceedings, with Great Britain leading 1-0 after Kyle Edmund’s win over Janko Tipsarevic, the defending champion ended Saturday with a 2-1 advantage over Serbia in Belgrade.

Dusan Lajovic levelled for the host, beating James Ward 6-1, 6-3, 6-2, but Great Britain hit back in the doubles rubber. Jamie Murray and Dominic Inglot united for a 6-1, 6-7(2), 6-3, 6-4 victory over Filip Krajinovic and Nenad Zimonjic. It was Inglot’s first Davis Cup victory for Great Britain, who won the ITF men’s team trophy last year for the first time since 1936.

#NextGen star Edmund will have the opportunity to seal victory for the Brits when he faces Lajovic on Sunday. 

ITALY 1, ARGENTINA 2

Venue: Circolo Tennis Baratoff, Pesaro, ITA (clay – outdoor)

After Fabio Fognini produced a near flawless display to beat Juan Monaco 6-1, 6-1, 7-5 and bring Italy level at 1-1 earlier in the day, it was Argentina that ended the day in charge after Guido Pella and Juan Martin del Potro battled to a 6-1, 7-6(4), 3-6, 3-6, 6-4 victory in the doubles over Fognini and Paolo Lorenzi.

“It was very difficult to deal with the noise at times,” said del Potro, who was representing Argentina for the first time since the 2012 semi-finals against Czech Republic. “At the beginning we played very well but then our opponents went up a level.”

U.S.A. 2, CROATIA 1

Venue: Tualatin Hills Tennis Center, Portland, USA (hard – outdoor)

Going into Saturday, the U.S. looked to have the quarter-final contest nearly clinched. They had a 2-0 lead and Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan, the winningest doubles team in U.S. Davis Cup history, set to face Marin Cilic and Ivan Dodig. But Cilic/Dodig pulled off the upset 6-2, 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 to keep Croatia’s hopes alive in the U.S.

The Bryans are now 24-5 in Davis Cup doubles matches. The U.S. still may hold a historical advantage, though. The country is 38-2 when leading 2-1 after Saturday in World Group format, which was introduced in 1981.