Gasquet triumphs for France in Davis Cup opener

Late call-up Richard Gasquet put France on their way in their Davis Cup World Group semi-final against Croatia on Friday, beating rising star Borna Coric 6-2, 7-6 (7/5), 6-1. Gasquet, 30, was drafted in after Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gael Monfils pulled out with knee injuries and the world number 17 made the most of the opportunity against the 19-year-old Coric on Zadar's indoor hard courts. The Frenchman initially missed out because of his own struggle with back and chest injuries over the summer, and even lost in the first round of the US Open to Britain's Kyle Edmund. In Friday's second singles rubber in-form Frenchman Lucas Pouille, ranked 18, will play 11th-ranked Marin Cilic.