Benneteau, Llodra give France advantage

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- Julien Benneteau and Michael Llodra claimed a straight-sets doubles victory Saturday, giving France a 2-1 lead over Canada in a Davis Cup quarterfinal.

The pair outlasted Canada's Daniel Nestor and Milos Raonic 7-6 (7-1), 7-6 (7-2), 6-3, handing France the advantage heading into Sunday's reverse singles at Thunderbird Sports Centre in Vancouver.

Benneteau and Llodra consistently outperformed their Canadian opponents, taking 81 percent of first-serve points to just 71 percent for Nestor and Raonic.

Coupled with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga's quick 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 win over Vasek Pospisil Friday, France will seek to advance Sunday when Raonic battles Tsonga and Pospisil takes on Benneteau.