VIENNA, March 6 (UPI) -- Jeremy Chardy prevailed in a decisive fifth rubber Sunday, downing Martin Fischer to give France a 3-2 victory over Austria in first-round Davis Cup play.
Chardy's 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3, 6-3 victory over Fischer in the second reverse-singles match handed France a ticket to July's Davis Cup quarterfinals, where France will face Germany.
The little-known Fischer had replaced veteran Stefan Koubek in the fifth match after Austria forced a winner-take-all showdown with Jurgen Melzer's 7-6 (9-7), 3-6, 1-6, 6-4, 6-0 come-from-behind victory over former top-10 French star Gilles Simon.
France, which improved to 8-0 all-time against Austria in Davis Cup competition, sported a 2-1 lead coming into the day after Austria's doubles win Saturday.
