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Andreev and Davydenko beat Grosjean and Llodra · 2007-04-08 14:49

Igor Andreev, www.sporting-heroes.netIgor Andreev and Nikolay Davydenko beat Sebastien Grosjean and Michael Llodra 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in doubles yesterday to give Russia a 2-1 lead over France in their Davis Cup world group quarter-final.

Before yesterday, no Russian or Soviet pair had won against France in Davis Cup doubles, since their first meeting in 1973.

France's Paul-Henri Mathieu had upset world No 4 Davydenko in the opening singles on Friday before Russia's Mikhail Youzhny levelled the score in a marathon match against Richard Gasquet.

Marat Safin had been expected to play doubles but his team said he had a slight foot injury and he was replaced by Davydenko, playing Davis Cup doubles for the first time, Gulf Times reports.

Nikolay Davydenko, www.tennisserver.com"It was a difficult match," Andreev said. "We put up a fight and the French maybe started getting nervous. We had a few chances and we used them."

The French pair launched into the match with zeal, taking five games within 29 minutes.

The Russians stepped up their game and won the second set despite playing from the baseline as Safin watched from the sidelines alongside Friday's hero Youzhny.

At two sets all, the Russians produced a fighting spirit to win the decider and finish the match in three hours 23 minutes.

Davydenko said that playing in a pair with Andreev had worked well even though neither had played doubles for about a year.

Today's reverse singles will determine which team goes into September's semi-finals against Germany, who took a 3-0 winning lead over Belgium in Ostend yesterday.

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