Davis Cup quarter-final: GB v France
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Venue: Queen’s Club, London Dates: 17-19 July
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Coverage: Live BBC Red Button & online on Friday 12:25-19:00 BST, on BBC Two on Saturday 13:00-16:00, and on BBC Two (Not NI, viewers can watch online) on Sunday 12:30-16:00.
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France took an early lead over Great Britain as Gilles Simon beat James Ward in their Davis Cup quarter-final.
Simon won 6-4 6-4 6-1 on the Queen’s Club grass in the opening match of the best-of-five tie in London.
Andy Murray will play Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Friday’s second singles match, with the doubles to follow on Saturday and reverse singles on Sunday.
The winners will go through to face Australia or Kazakhstan in September’s World Group semi-finals.
Simple for Simon
It was always going to be a tall order for Ward, the world number 89, to overcome 11th-ranked Simon, and so it proved.The Londoner began solidly enough, missing an early break point thanks to an unkind net cord, but facing a first break point on his own serve in game five he could only hammer a smash into the net.
Former GB Davis Cup player and BBC commentator Andrew Castle
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“We said there was a bit of a gulf in class and that was exposed by Simon’s movement and defence against the ball, which makes you press that bit too hard.
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“James Ward has played above himself in the Davis Cup in the past. It was a little embarrassing in the third set but he will come back from this.”
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The Briton’s forehand began to let him down as Simon grew increasingly comfortable from the baseline, drawing 51 unforced errors over three sets.
A semi-finalist on the same courts at last month’s ATP event, the Frenchman broke for a 2-1 lead in the second set and three times in the third.
“It was a great match for me,” said Simon. “I got lucky to have an early break in each set and I’m really happy about the match I played today.”
