Defending Champion France Beats Spain to Advance to Davis Cup Final

Doubles pair Julien Benneteau and Nicolas Mahut sealed France's win over Spain, securing the defending Davis Cup champions a trip to the final.
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LILLE, France — Doubles pair Julien Benneteau and Nicolas Mahut sealed France's win over Spain in their Davis Cup semifinal on Saturday, giving the defending champions an unassailable 3-0 lead.

The French veterans, both aged 36, defeated Marcel Granollers and Feliciano Lopez 6-0, 6-4, 7-6 (7) on the indoor hard court set up inside the Pierre Mauroy soccer stadium.

France has now reached back-to-back finals for the first time since 2002.

France, which won both singles matches Friday, will either face Croatia or the United States in the final.

Spain was without top-ranked Rafael Nadal, who was ruled out because of the right knee injury that forced him to retire from his U.S. Open semifinal against Juan Martin del Potro last week.


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