Doubles Win Keeps France Alive in Cup

Frenchmen Michael Llodra and Arnaud Clement rallied past top-ranked twins Bob and Mike Bryan 6-7 (7), 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 to cut the Americans' lead to 2-1 in their Davis Cup quarterfinal today. The Bryans had been 14-1 in Davis Cup play and 5-0 in clinching situations, but they couldn't secure a spot for the United States in the semifinals against Spain.

Llodra and Clement raised their record to 4-2 against the Bryans, keeping the French alive going into reverse singles. A day after Andy Roddick and James Blake put the U.S. in command with wins, the Bryans wasted a chance to pass John McEnroe and Peter Fleming as the winningest U.S. Davis Cup doubles team. Tomorrow, Roddick plays either  Paul-Henri Mathieu or Richard Gasquet and Blake plays the final match. (More tennis stories.)