Jo-Wilfried Tsonga sent France into the Davis Cup semi-finals after beating Jiri Vesely of the Czech Republic yesterday to hand his team an unbeatable 3-1 lead in their quarter-final. On the hard court of the Werk Arena in Trinec, world number 10 Tsonga beat 50th-ranked Vesely 4-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-4, 7-5 in three hours and 28 minutes. In their quest for a first Davis Cup title since 2001, France will now face either the United States or Croatia in the semi-finals in September.
In a clash of the teams’ number-one players, the 23-year-old Vesely took the first set on a single break and both held on to their serves in the second, which went to Tsonga, 31, in a tie-break. A dominant Tsonga then broke Vesely’s serve for the first time to win the third.
In the fourth set, Tsonga survived three break points in game six and broke again five games later to win the rubber and the tie. “With the experience I have, I knew that even despite a poor start it’s not over, it goes on, the rubber is long,” Tsonga told reporters. “But I really had to work hard to win today.”
“The game was extremely hard, he’s a very experienced player,” Vesely told Czech Television. “It’s harder to play when you’re 2-1 down, I gave it my best, I felt much better today than on Friday, maybe because I had absolutely nothing to lose. I’m sorry about the second set, I played well and if I had managed to win maybe things would have been different, but it’s hard to tell.”
On Friday, the Czechs took the lead in the tie as world number 78 Lukas Rosol stunned Tsonga 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (10/8), 6-4. Lucas Pouille, ranked 21st, then swept past Vesely 7-6 (7/2), 6-4, 7-5 to put France level on his Davis Cup debut. And in Saturday’s doubles rubber, Wimbledon champions Mahut and Herbert beat Radek Stepanek and Rosol 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 to hand France a 2-1 lead. French captain Yannick Noah said he had no preference when it comes to the semi-final rival. “Whatever team we face, I sincerely think that if we arrive well-prepared, ready, in our best shape, we will win the Davis Cup,” he said.

Cilic steps up in doubles as Croatia stay alive against USA
Ivan Dodig and Marin Cilic dealt Bob and Mike Bryan a rare doubles defeat on Saturday to keep Croatia alive in their Davis Cup World Group quarter-final against the United States.
World number 12 Cilic stepped in at the last minute to partner Dodig, and the moved paid off with a 6-2, 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 victory over the Bryan brothers — owners of 16 Grand Slam doubles titles. With the win, Croatia closed the gap to 2-1 in the best-of-five match hardcourt tie in Portland, Oregon.
“It was a group decision,” Cilic said of his replacing Marin Draganja in the doubles. “Ivan is our first player in the team and he felt that I would work a little better with him against the Bryan brothers. As it happened, today I played probably the best match of my life in doubles.”
The Croatians were on the ropes after singles defeats for Cilic and Borna Coric on Friday. Jack Sock, ranked 26th in the world, roared back after dropping the first two sets to stun former US Open champion Cilic 4-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4, and US number one John Isner then overpowered Coric 6-4, 6-4, 6-3.
Cilic will try to keep the tie alive when he takes on Isner in the first reverse singles match. He has beaten the big-serving American in all five of their prior encounters. It’s bit different situation now, it’s 2-1 on Sunday. Whatever happened the last two days it’s behind us. It’s going to be definitely a tough match against John, especially on this kind of court. I’m hoping I am going to be 100 % and I can pull out a great match,” Cilic said.
With 32 titles, the United States are the most successful Davis Cup nation ever. But they were ousted in the first round the past two years by Britain and last reached the semi-finals in 2012 — when they were beaten by Spain. The winners of the best-of-five match tie will take on France in the semi-finals.