Gasquet sends France through

Richard Gasquet beat Andrei Pavel 6-3 6-2 7-5 to give France an unassailable 3-1 lead over Romania in their Davis Cup first-round tie.

Gasquet took one minute less than two hours to secure the victory that sends France into a quarter-final away against either Chile or holders Russia whose first-round tie.

The French world number 16 did not take long to gain control against Pavel, a former top 20 player who has dropped into the 100s due to injuries.

Gasquet did not once have a break point against him as he took the opening two sets comfortably but the Romanian made more of a match of it in the third.

Pavel went 3-1 up after his first break and then 4-1 ahead before serving for the set at 5-3, but an unlucky net cord and a double fault by the Romanian handed the initiative back to the Frenchman who took three successive games for the victory.

Gasquet had also won his singles against Victor Hanescu on Friday when Sebastien Grosjean overcame Pavel but the Romanians took the match into the third day with their doubles victory on Saturday.