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3/7/09 7:08 AM | Ricky Dimon
Saturday's doubles rubber between France and the Czech Republic will give one team an all-important 2-1 lead going into Sunday's reverse singles rubbers.
The France vs. Czech Republic opening-round Davis Cup tie looked like a blockbuster on paper, and it's already living up to its billing on the court. Tomas Berdych beat Gilles Simon 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-3 in the first singles rubber on Friday, but Jo-Wilfried Tsonga pulled France even by defeating Radek Stepanek 7-5, 6-2, 7-6(1).
As a result, the stage is now set for a dramatic final two days of the tie. It will start back up with a critical doubles rubber on Saturday afternoon. Lukas Dlouhy and Jan Hernych are currently scheduled to take the court for the Czechs, while Richard Gasquet and Michael Llodra are reportedly suiting up for France.
However, it sounds like those pairings are subject to change. "I am satisfied with the result of this first day, tomorrow will of course be very important, and I hope to play my one and two players in the doubles," said Czech captain Jaroslav Navratil.
"One-all is a good score," added French head man Guy Forget. "I knew that we would not win 3-0. Let’s hope that we win the doubles and then at 2-1 we should be able to win one of two matches on Sunday."
Dlouhy is ranked 10th in the world in doubles and has been enjoying great success over the past few seasons with partner Leander Paes. Hernych rarely plays doubles and he has never teamed up with Dlouhy.
Llodra, once as high as No. 8 in the world in doubles, is currently 30th. A formidable doubles player, Llodra would almost certainly be ranked higher if he did not devote so much focus to singles. He will be without his normal partner, Arnaud Clement, and will instead pair up with Gasquet (unless something changes) for the first time.
The outcome could depend on whether or not the two captains make any moves, but if it remains the same, France in a five-setter is the pick.
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