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Davis Cup: Great Britain v France Day 3 Predictions

By Geoff Nichols

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Davis Cup: Great Britain v France Day 3 Predictions

Day Two Summary

The middle Saturday of a Davis Cup tie is usually crucial and in the Great Britain quarter final against France it was more so than ever. One of the beauties of the Davis Cup in that is gives a greater platform for doubles, as the third match is always a live rubber.

We the tie finely poised after the first day of singles action, the doubles looked to be the decisive rubber. Amid intense speculation as to the line-ups, in the end both captains made one change from the original nominations, with Andy Murray and Jo Wilfried Tsonga coming in.

Aside from a nervy start from the Murray brothers, the match was evenly contested and really could have gone either way in the third set tie break. Andy Murray was an animated as he has ever been when the tie break went in their favour, as the match became more one sided.

Andy Murray/Jamie Murray beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga/Nicolas Mahut 4-6 6-3 7-6 (7-5) 6-1

Great Britain lead France 2-1

Events elsewhere in the Davis Cup quarter finals over the weekend placed even more significance on this doubles win for Great Britain. Should they confirm their progression on Sunday, they will face a guaranteed home semi final against either Australia or Kazakhstan in September.

That would be a very winnable tie on home soil for the Brits, with the other semi final match already confirmed. One of Belgium and Argentina will be Davis Cup finalists and should Great Britain also make it that far, it would be a home tie against Argentina or a trip to Belgium.

Winner plays semi final against Australia or Kazakhstan 

Teams

Great BritainFrance
1: Andy Murray (3)1: Gilles Simon (11)
2: James Ward (89)2: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (202)
3: Jamie Murray (20, doubles)3: Richard Gasquet (13)
4: Dom Inglot (40, doubles)4: Nicolas Mahut (22, doubles)
Captain: Leon SmithCaptain: Arnaud Clement

Day Three Preview

Match four will see top seed Andy Murray play Gilles Simon of the French stick with their nominations. However, it is not a good match up for Simon, who has lost to Murray on numerous occasions and doesn’t seem to have the weapons to blow through his defences.

The French may look to Richard Gasquet to bring about a change in fortunes. He could play a more offensive style, testing the resolve of Murray who could be feeling the affects of two matches in two days as well as a couple of heavy falls.

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Match give will feature James Ward if it is still a live rubber. He is the only other singles player in the Great Britain squad, but will go in as heavy underdog against Jo Wilfried Tsonga, Richard Gasquet or even Nicolas Mahut. The French have options, but really their focus will be on upsetting Murray.

One off the wall strategy would be throwing Mahut in against Murray, with the Frenchman having had quite the love affair with Queens down the years. It would be a crazy call from the captain, but one that could be the only way of disrupting the Murray juggernaut.

Prediction: Great Britain win 3-2

Next: Wimbledon 2015: Top 5 Upsets in Men's Draw

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