Live Commentary

France first into quarters
Kas opens the game with a serve and smash winner, but Benneteau steps in next with a blistering forehand forcing error for 15-15. A smart lob by Kas then sets up two game points for the Germans. The French duo then concentrates on Kas to extract errors and successfully forces a deuce. An overhit lob by Kohlschreiber gives France their second match point and a delightful volley by Benneteau gives France the MATCH, TIE and a place in the QUARTERFINALS of the 2010 DAVIS CUP.

Benneteau opens the game well and extracts return errors from both Kohlschreiber and Kas to get a 30-0 lead. More resistance comes to the fore when Llodra gives hand to Benneteau's serves with his put away volley winners to stay ahead 6-5 in the fourth set.

At 0-15, Llodra's intense play at the net, coupled with a wall-like coverage gives France a 0-30 chance. Germany gets gets back with two solid service winners for 30-30. An impatient overhit forehand by Benneteau gives Germany the game point, but Llodra hits a delightful forehand down the line return winner for deuce. Benneteau then hits a delightful crosscourt orehand return to get the match point for France, but Germans calmly avoid the damage with the serving prowess.

The Frenchmen hit back with equal force through Llodra's love service game in return. Llodra's ability to clear the net with his astonishing coverage gives France the game and a 5-4 lead.

The Germans again race to a quick love service game as Kas hits some well placed serves, followed by crisp vollies to stay toe-to-toe with the French team.

A low return of serve from Kas forces an error from Llodra for 15-15. A bad set of vollies by Benneteau then give Germany an opening which is soon closed by Llodra's thrilling net play. Benneteau then hits a service winner for game point and follows up with a sharp serve and volley to win the game.

Llodra opens the game well with a strong return of serve and comes up with a beautiful forehand volley behind Kas. A put away by Kas then gets Germany a 15-30 scoreline. Benneteau's return error gives Germany a game point and Llodra's backhand error the game.

Llodra opens his service game with a lot of conviction and he translates the same into some beautiful serve and volley winners. An error in judgement by Frenchmen though gives a point to Germany. But another service winner sets up game points for Llodra, which Benneteau converts and stay ahead at 3-2 without any BREAK.

At 30-0, Llodra hits a delightful punching volley from the middle of the court to get the point. A blistering backhand from Benneteau then furthers France' chances which Kohlschreiber squanders with a smart volley, followed by Llodra's error. It's 2-2 in the fourth set.

Germans continue to put pressure on the French duo who fail to return another blistering return of serve, this time by Kas for 15-15. However, Benneteau regroups himself to get a couple of free points with the help of solid serves and pockets an easy service game.

Germans look in supreme confidence now as with a set in hand, things change to an extent for the German duo. Kohlschreiber wastes no time and holds yet another love service game for 1-1.

The French team sits in a rigorous strategy-changing session with Captain Guy Forget during the change overs and comes out strong as Llodra wastes little time to race to a 30-15 lead. A reflex volley by Benneteau then sets up two game points for France. Two attacking returns of serve then square off the point score at deuce. After two more deuces, the French team holds serve and opens the fourth set at 1-0.

Kas opens with a good serve and Kohlschreiber finishes a high volley at the net to get a 30-0 lead. An outwide serve is surprisingly returned for winner by Benneteau for 30-15. A couple of errors at the net by Germans give the rench duo a chance to get one of the breaks back, but Kas' emphatic serves give Germany the third set by 6 games to 1.

The new-improved German duo continue to threaten the Frenchman with thier astonishing play. A swashbuckling return by Kas sets up another break point for Germany which Kas converts with a forehand winner.

Benneteau opens well with a beautiful backhand crosscourt return winner. Kohlschreiber then comes up with two nicely placed serves to make it 30-15. A defensive volley by Kohlschreiber then gets the ball rolling for the German team as they lead France in the third set 4-1.

Kohlschreiber hits blistering returns to get Germany a 0-30 lead. An error from Benneteau then gives Germany a triple break point opportunity. Llodra's angled volley then comes as a momentary relief as Benneteau's mis-hit volley gives Germany what they badly wanted, a BREAK and 3-1 lead.

Kas continues to impress in his service games as he cracks a series of service winners to get to 40-0. A return error from Benneteau then gives Germany a 2-1 lead in the third set with no breaks so far.

At 30-15, a blistering forehand from Llodra extracts an error from Kas. Moments later, the Frenchman race to another easy service hold.

Kohlschreiber tries to put aside the bad memories of the first two sets and gets easy points on serve. At 30-0, Llodra forces an error from Kas, two more return errors give Germany the opening game of the third set.

Llodra opens with a swinging volley winner and hits a delightful serve for two set points at 40-15. As Kohlschreiber's return jumps the line, France get a two sets to love lead.

Kohlschreiber makes a point in his service game as he rushes to net more often for serve and volley and returns a difficult lob to extract an unforced error from the French duo. Llodra will now serve for two sets to love lead.

At 15-15, Benneteau hits a wonderful stretched volley to get a 30-15 lead. Germans then force an issue to square off the score. Benneteau then hits comes up with two rock solid serves to give France a 5-3 lead.

Kas' ability to move the French duo with his angled serves again pays dividends as the Germans race to a 40-15 lead. A service winner then lands Germany another game and a chance to look for opportunities to squander France' break lead.

At 15-0, Kas keeps the Frenchmen on the run and hits a superb angled volley to push Benneteau to the stands. Extra-ordinary net play from Llodra then sets up two game points which the French duo convert with another service winner.

Kohlschreiber does not disappoint once again makes a good start to the service game. With no resistance from the rench, German duo wins the game but trail 2-3 by a break.

At 15-0, Kas hits a delightful on-the-run forehand down the line, but Benneteau comes up with an even bigger set of serves to get to 40-15. An error at the net by Llodra does give Germans a chance to make an attempt to force a deuce, but Frenchmen waste no time and hold serve for France for a 3-1 second set lead.

At 15-15, Llodra's volley hits Kohlschreiber at the net for which he duly apologizes. A volley error them from Kas gives France two break points. Llodra misses a volley by Kohlschreiber to let the Germans come back into the game which they duly do and hold the serve to get on board.

Llodra's serve extracts a series of errors from the German racquets, and a wonderful serve and volley play gives France three game points. An ace then consolidates France' lead at 2-0.

Kohlschreiber makes a bad start to the second set and loses first three points easily, the last off them being a backhand return pass winner by Llodra. Things do not change much and the rench duo gets another early break to stay ahead in this crucial doubles rubber.

The Germans continue to bask in the glory of the new found rhythm and hit blistering groundstrokes to get three break points at 0-40. Benneteau then regroups himself to come up with an ace and a well placed serve to force a deuce. An error by Benneteau at the net then gives Germany another chance, but Benneteau's serve comes to the rescue again. Kohlschreiber finds an opening behind Benneteau again for a winning volley and advantage, but fails to convert another opportunity. Awesome court coverage by Benneteau eventually gives France a set point which they convert and pocket the opener 6-1.

Kohlschreiber opens the game well and puzzles Llodra at the net to extract a couple of errors. A service winner then sets up three game points which Kas converts with a nice put away volley to finally get Germany on the scoreboard.

Kohlschreiber hits a delightful forehand winner on Llodra's serve, but Benneteau's ferocity at the net gets the French a 30-15 lead. An error in judgement from Frenchmen then gives Germany a chance to level the point score at 30-30. A wonderful punch volley by Kas gives the Germans their first break point of the match, but Llodra comes up with a big serve to square off the score at deuce. Llodra's ace on second serve shows his confidence and reflects on the scoreboard as France gets to a flying start at 5-0.

The local favourites make a good start and force errors to get a 0-30 lead. Kas, though, doesn't lose his concentration and wins the next two with well placed serves. Another break point follows for France when Kohlschreiber forehand hits the net, which the Frenchman convert as Kas falters with a double fault.

Benneteau opens his service game with a deep serve down the T, but an error in judgement at 15-15 gives Germans a chance to break back. Serving under pressure, Benneteau then hits a couple of good serves to get a game point and wins the game when Kas hits a forehand into the net.

Frenchmen open the game well force an error for 0-15. An expensive error from Kas at the net gives France an opportunity 15-30. Llodra's attacking play at the net again comes to the fore and host nation get a break. It's 2-0 now.

Llodra opens the match with a strong serve and volley play and hits a beautiful service winner to get three game points. With some solid play at the net then, the Frenchman holds serve.

Frenchmen win the toss and elect to serve.

Both teams arrive on court and prepare for toss.

Hello and welcome to TennisEarth's coverage of the  Davis Cup, LIVE from Palais des Sports - Toulon, France !!!

In the doubles rubber, French duo of Julien Benneteau and Michael Llodra take on Germans Philipp Kohlschreiber and Christopher Kas in the 1st Round tie of 2010 Davis Cup.

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