Michael Llodra and Gael Monfils enjoyed four-sets victories on the opening day of their Davis Cup semi-final against Argentina to give France a commanding 2-0 lead.
Llodra got the French off to a winning start by beating Juan Monaco 7-5 4-6 7-5 6-3, and Monfils extended their advantage with a 6-4 2-6 6-4 6-3 triumph over David Nalbandian in the second singles rubber in Lyon.
At 30 in the world, Llodra is ranked three places above Monaco and that was reflected on court in Lyon as he shaded the contest over four tight sets in three hours and 22 minutes.
Llodra showed a willingness to come to the net and, while the results were mixed, his attacking intent served him well.
He broke twice in the opening set to shade it before dropping the second.
The third appeared to be going to a tie-break, but Llodra secured the break at a crucial time to take the set, and another single break was enough for him to seal the fourth.
‘I knew I had to stay focused and play my game,’ Llodra told www.daviscup.com.
‘It's tennis and anything can happen in Davis Cup. I eventually saved all the break points on my serve. It was a good match today. That's one point, two to go.’
Number two duly arrived when US Open quarter-finalist Monfils got the better of former world number three Nalbandian, who is now ranked 28th.
The athletic Frenchman took the first set with the help of 10 aces and, although Davis Cup stalwart Nalbandian broke the Monfils serve twice in the second to level the match, the home favourite responded in style.
The world number 15 capitalised on his only break-point opportunity in the third to move a set to the good again, and then reeled off six straight games to overturn a 3-0 deficit in the fourth to complete the victory.
Llodra and Arnaud Clement will look to seal a first final appearance in six years for nine-time champions France by defeating Argentinian pair Eduardo Schwank and Horacio Zeballos in Saturday’s doubles rubber.
