PARIS, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- France captured the all-important doubles point Saturday in its Davis Cup final against Russia as Nicolas Escude and Fabrice Santoro rallied to beat Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Marat Safin in five sets.
Escude and Santoro moved France within one win of its second straight Davis Cup triumph and 10th overall with a 6-3, 3-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 doubles victory.
The loss may be ominous for Russia since the team that records the doubles victory has won the Davis Cup each time since 1978. By by making the Russian pair play almost three hours, the French are hoping Kafelnikov and Safin will be fatigued for Sunday's reverse singles.
France has a four-man team while Russia relies only on its two former Grand Slam champions. Sunday, Safin will try to stave off defeat against Sebastien Grosjean. If needed, Kafelnikov would take on Paul-Henri Mathieu in the decisive rubber.
Russia is aiming for its first Davis Cup victory after losing finals to Sweden and the United States in 1994 and 1995, respectively.
