France wrapped up victory in their Davis Cup first-round tie against Japan after Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut won Saturday's doubles to give the visitors an unassailable 3-0 lead. The Wimbledon champions swatted aside Yuichi Sugita and Yasutaka Uchiyama 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 after Richard Gasquet and Gilles Simon had dominated the opening day's singles in Tokyo on Friday.
"We didn't play our greatest match but did what we had to do to win," Mahut told reporters after helping France secure a spot in the Davis Cup quarter-finals. "It's rare you get easy matches in the David Cup," he added, struggling to be diplomatic after second lopsided day of tennis. "We had a few complicated moments but we managed to deal with them. We've been together for over three weeks so we know each other well and have this strength."
Japan have failed to win a single set in three matches in the absence of world number five Kei Nishikori, who opted to sit out the World Group clash. Gasquet swept past Taro Daniel 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 on Friday before Simon overpowered Yoshihito Nishioka 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 to put Yannick Noah's team firmly in the driving seat. "It was quick and well played, yes," said Noah, a losing Davis Cup finalist in 1982.
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