TRINEC, Czech Republic (AP) Wimbledon doubles champions Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert had to fight hard to defeat Lukas Rosol and Radek Stepanek 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 to give France a 2-1 lead over the Czech Republic in the Davis Cup quarterfinals Saturday.
A week after beating Julien Benneteau and Edouard Roger-Vasselin in straight sets to clinch the Wimbledon title, Mahut and Herbert needed five sets on the indoor hard court for a victory that puts France one win away from a Davis Cup semifinal.
Amid increased security following the deadly attack in the French city of Nice, Mahut closed it out with an overhead volley in the eastern Czech city of Trinec.
In Sunday's first reverse singles, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga can clinch the best-of -five series with a victory over Jiri Vesely.
