WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., April 12 (UPI) -- France stayed alive in the Davis Cup quarterfinal round Saturday with a doubles victory over the United States in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Michael Llodra and Arnaud Clement rallied to knock off twin brothers Bob and Mike Bryan, the world's top-ranked doubles tandem, by scores of 6-7 (7-9), 7-5, 6-3, 6-4.
Llodra and Clement lost just three service points during the fourth set.
A victory would have sent the Americans into the semifinals in September. Instead the U.S. team saw its advantage over France cut to 2-1.
In Sunday's reverse singles, Andy Roddick faces Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu and, if needed, James Blake takes on either Llodra or Richard Gasquet.
The U.S.-France winner plays the Russia-Czech Republic winner.
Russia took a 2-1 lead Saturday when Nikolay Davydenko and Igor Andreev banged out a 3-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 win against Radek Stepanek and Pavel Vizner.
