Nine-time champions France eased into the Davis Cup final yesterday, but Serbia’s decision to throw world number two Novak Djokovic into doubles action backfired against the Czech Republic.

France opened up an unassailable 3-0 lead in their semi-final against Argentina in Lyon when Michael Llodra and Arnaud Clement defeated US Open semi-finalists Horacio Zeballos and Eduardo Schwank 6-4, 7-5, 6-3.

In December’s final, France, whose last title came in 2001, will tackle either last year’s runners-up Czech Republic or Serbia, who have never reached a Davis Cup final.

The Czechs were 2-1 ahead in Belgrade after Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek saw off Djokovic and Nenad Zimonjic 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-1.

Djokovic, who was US Open runner-up to Rafael Nadal last Monday, pulled out of his scheduled singles rubber on Friday, a reported victim of gastro-enteritis.

In his absence, Viktor Troicki was beaten by Stepanek before Janko Tipsarevic levelled the tie with victory over Berdych.

“The key was that they were relaxed. The stakes were high,” said Serbia coach Bogdan Obradovic after yesterday’s doubles before adding he has yet to decide who will play reverse singles today.

France had already been 2-0 ahead overnight in Lyon thanks to singles wins by Llodra over Juan Monaco and Gael Monfils who beat David Nalbandian.

Yesterday, Llodra and Clement wrapped up victory after 2hrS 28min on court. “It’s extraordinary to have a team like ours,” said France captain Guy Forget yesterday.

Play-offs

In the play-offs, which will decide who features in the World Group in 2011, Australia took a 2-1 lead over Belgium in Cairns when Lleyton Hewitt and Paul Hanley saw off Olivier Rochus and Ruben Bemelmans 6-1, 6-2, 6-4.

Australia, who have won the Davis Cup 28 times, are keen to win their way back into the elite grouping of 16 for the first time since they were dumped out of it by Belgium in 2007.

“There’s two matches tomorrow (today) and we have to win one of them – we look forward to the battle,” Hewitt said.

Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi used their Grand Slam-winning experience to keep India afloat against Brazil in Chennai beating Bruno Soares and Marcelo Melo 6-4, 7-6 (7/5), 6-1.

It was the Indian pair’s 24th successive Davis Cup win, a record for the competition.

Kazakhstan reached the World Group for the first time by taking a 3-0 lead over Switzerland in Astana after Andrey Golubev and Yuriy Schukin defeated Yves Allegro and Stanislas Wawrinka 6-4, 6-3, 6-3.

Switzerland are playing without Roger Federer.

Germany also made sure of their place in the World Group with a 3-0 win over South Africa while Romania saw off Ecuador 3-0.

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