STUTTGART, Germany (AP)—Gael Monfils swept past Philipp Kohlschreiber in straight sets to give France a 2-0 lead after the opening singles Friday in its Davis Cup quarterfinal against Germany.
France can secure a place in the semifinals if it wins Saturday’s doubles.
Monfils beat Kohlschreiber 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5), 6-4 to double France’s lead after Richard Gasquet’s unlikely 4-6, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-3 comeback win over a cramping Florian Mayer in the first singles.
“I didn’t play that well but I won and that’s what’s important,” said Gasquet, who was one game away from defeat.
France was the runner-up last year, when it lost to Serbia in the final, while Germany is looking for its first semifinal since 2007. France has a 6-2 record against Germany and has not lost to its neighbor since 1938.
Monfils, France’s top-ranked player at No. 7, broke for a 3-2 lead in the third set and hung on to give France a comfortable lead after the first day.
He finished the match with an ace, his 15th of the match. He also had eight double-faults, but another 14 service winners.
Gasquet celebrated his return to Davis Cup singles play after three years with an important win for his team. Mayer served for the match but dropped his serve at love and never recovered.
Gasquet’s only previous victory from two sets down was against Andy Roddick at Wimbledon in 2007.
The Frenchman went up a break in each of the first two sets but could not use the advantage. After breaking back, Mayer won four straight games to claim the first set.
The German was down 3-1 in the second before bouncing back. Gasquet saved seven set points before Mayer hit a volley winner to go two sets up.
The Frenchman wasted a 2-0 lead in the third and double-faulted to give Mayer a 5-4 lead and a chance to serve out the match. But the German rushed his shots and could not win a point.
Gasquet broke Mayer at love to win the set and put France back into the match.
“That’s when I got more confident,” Gasquet said.
After Gasquet broke to go up 3-1, Mayer started wincing in pain from cramps in his left thigh. Visibly bothered, Mayer could not offer much resistance.
In the decisive fifth, Gasquet broke to go up 4-3 and fired an ace to make it 5-3.
Mayer saved two match points but Gasquet hit a return winner to clinch the match.
“I played really well and had the match under control,” Mayer said of the first two sets. “I never had cramps in my life before, maybe that’s because of the extra tension in Davis Cup.”
Gasquet is ranked No. 11, nine spots higher than Mayer. The Frenchman had 10 aces against four for Mayer, who had 58 unforced errors, compared to 40 for Gasquet.