France, Russia draw first blood in Davis Cup
Source: Agencies |
March 6, 2010, Saturday
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Print Edition
GAEL Monfils defeated Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (5) to give France a 1-0 lead over Germany in the Davis Cup World Group first round yesterday.
Monfils, who claimed his maiden victory in the team competition, served 15 aces and broke his opponent five times. He closed out the match in two hours and 45 minutes on his second match point when Kohlschreiber hit a forehand wide.
Monfils, who made his debut in last year's World Group playoffs, stretched his unbeaten run over Kohlschreiber to three matches.
"With this win we put the pressure on the German side," Monfils said.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was playing Benjamin Becker in the second match on the indoor hardcourt of the Palais des Sports in Toulon.
Tsonga has a perfect record in the event with six wins in six matches while Becker has lost his only two Davis Cup matches.
France has a 5-2 record against Germany in the Davis Cup. In their last meeting four years ago, France won 3-2 after leading 3-0.
France has won the title nine times, while Germany has won it three times.
In Moscow, substitute Igor Kunitsyn rallied to beat Somdev Devvarman 6-7 (6), 7-6 (4), 6-3, 6-4 in the opening singles yesterday to give Russia a 1-0 lead over India in their World Group encounter.
Kunitsyn replaced Igor Andreev, who injured his left knee during practice late on Thursday. Andreev had been called in to play for the injured Nikolay Davydenko, Russia's top player.
The 13th-ranked Mikhail Youzhny was taking on India's Rohan Bopanna in the second singles.
The winner will play either Argentina or Sweden in the quarterfinals on July 9-11.
In Melbourne, Australia took a 2-0 lead over Chinese Taipei in its Asia/Oceania Group 1 playoff after singles victories by 17-year-old Bernard Tomic and Peter Luczak.
Tomic, making his Davis Cup debut, beat Yang Tsung-hua 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 while Luczak defeated Yi Chu-huan 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 in the opening singles.
Australia can clinch the best-of-five encounter in today's doubles when Carsten Ball and Paul Hanley are scheduled to play Yang and Yi. Reverse singles will be tomorrow.
Australia, which has won the Davis Cup 28 times, is playing without team stalwart Lleyton Hewitt, who is recovering from hip surgery.
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