Saturday 13 September 2014 20:58, UK
France reached the Davis Cup final for the first time since 2010 thanks to the efforts of Richard Gasquet and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
The pair both won their singles matches on the opening day of the semi-final against cup holders the Czech Republic at Roland Garros and reconvened on Saturday to see off Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek in the doubles and open an unassailable 3-0 lead in the tie.
Gasquet and Tsonga prevailed 6-7 (4/7) 6-4 7-6 (7/5) 6-1 against an out-of-sorts Czech pairing, who were hampered by a back injury to Stepanek.
"All the players were in great condition, I am actually happy I had to make those choices," said France captain Arnaud Clement, who stuck with Tsonga and Gasquet rather than the expected Gael Monfils-Julien Benneteau doubles pairing.
France will play either Switzerland at home or Italy away in the final (November 21-23).
Italy reduced their semi-final deficit to 2-1 in Geneva on Saturday, Fabio Fognini and Simone Bolelli keeping the tie alive with a five-set doubles win against against Swiss pair Stanislas Wawrinka and Marco Chiudinelli.
Trailing 2-0 after Roger Federer and Wawrinka won Friday's singles matches, Fognini and Bolelli had no margin for error but produced a battling display in front of a sea of Swiss fans to win 7-5 3-6 5-7 6-3 6-2.
Italy, seeking their first final appearance for 16 years, still have it all to do with Fognini needing to beat 17-times grand slam champion Federer in Sunday's opening reverse singles.
