France Flies Into Davis Cup Semis

FRANCE 3, GREAT BRITAIN 0
Kindarena, Rouen, France (Indoor Clay)

Julien Benneteau and Nicolas Mahut overcame Jamie Murray and Dominic Inglot 7-6(7), 5-7, 7-5, 7-5 on Saturday to secure France’s place in the Davis Cup semi-finals.

The French duo gave Les Bleus an unassailable 3-0 lead in their quarter-final tie with Great Britain, surging into the semis for the fifth time in eight years. They advanced when a Murray backhand volley clipped the tape off a Mahut lob, improving to 6-1 in their last seven home ties.

Despite the absence of stalwarts Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Gael Monfils and Richard Gasquet, France dropped just one set in reaching the last four, including straight-set victories for Lucas Pouille and Jeremy Chardy on Friday. Seeking a 10th Davis Cup crown, Yannick Noah’s side will face either Serbia or Spain next.

Great Britain, meanwhile, failed to reach the semi-finals for the first time in three years. The 2015 champions were without the services of World No. 1 Andy Murray, who is recovering from an injured right elbow.