Austria logs doubles win, stays alive

VIENNA, March 5 (UPI) -- Austria remained alive in first-round Davis Cup play Saturday when Jurgen Melzer and Oliver Marach won their doubles match against France.

Melzer and Marach defeated the French duo of Julien Benneteau and Michael Llodra 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, pulling Austria to within 2-1 after the team had absorbed a pair of singles defeats Friday.

Melzer, the world No. 10, fell in one of the Friday's losses, but rebounded with the doubles victory and now will face Gilles Simon in Sunday's first reverse-singles match.

Should Melzer win, a fifth-and-decisive singles match will be held, most likely pitting Jeremy Chardy against Stefan Koubek.