Davis Cup: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga levels up for France after nervous Lucas Pouille loses to Lajovic

ByReuters

Updated 15/09/2017 at 18:29 GMT

France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga breezed to a straight-sets victory over Serbia's Laslo Djere to level up their Davis Cup semi-final tie at 1-1.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga - France Coupe Davis 2017

Image credit: Getty Images

Victory for Tsonga comes after France found themselves unexpectedly trailing 1-0 at home to Serbia when Lucas Pouille was stunned 6-1 3-6 7-6(7) 7-6(5) by Dusan Lajovic in the first singles match on Friday.

World number 18 Tsonga made amends on the indoor clay court, overcoming his Serbian opponent - ranking 95 in the world - 7-6(2) 6-3 6-3.

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Tsonga got off to a slow start as world number 95 Djere held throughout the opening set, but the 2008 Australian Open runner-up served three aces to take the tiebreak easily.

He was then rarely troubled in a one-sided encounter, and Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut are expected to give the hosts a 2-1 lead in Saturday's doubles against Filip Krajinovic and Nenad Zimonjic.

Meanwhile, Pouille, the world number 22, was way too shaky in Lille's Pierre Mauroy stadium, and he rapidly fell behind against world number 80 Lajovic, bowing out after saving five match points.

"This is what Davis Cup is about," said Serbia captain Nenad Zimonjic. "Both players gave everything - they fought until the end.

"We know we need a miracle to win this tie but we believe in our team."

France were heavily favoured with former Serbian world number one Novak Djokovic absent. But Pouille looked nervous early on, spraying the court with unforced errors while Lajovic made the difference with his forehand.

Pouille fought back to force a tiebreak. But despite the loud backing of the crowd, the Frenchman wasted a set point before handing the set to Lajovic when he fired a forehand wide.

Pouille turned the situation around in the second set as Lajovic started to struggle with his forehand. But in the fourth set, Lajovic broke early on and set up a match point at 5-3.

Pouille saved it and broke back for 5-4. He then saved three consecutive match points on serve in the 12th game, but lost the tiebreak after a brief interruption as Lajovic was suffering from cramps.

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