Rosol beats Tsonga, Czechs lead France 1-0 in Davis Cup

TRINEC, Czech Republic (AP) - Lukas Rosol saved two match points to prevail over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (8), 6-4 and give the Czech Republic a 1-0 lead over France in the Davis Cup quarterfinals on Friday.

Amid increased security following the deadly attack in the French city of Nice, Rosol converted his third match point with a passing forehand on an indoor hard court in the eastern city of Trinec.

A minute of silence was observed at Werk Arena before the opening singles to honor the 84 people killed by a truck in Nice.

"I'm speechless," Rosol said after the match that took almost four hours. "Things somehow turned around."

It was only his second career victory over Tsonga in five matchups.

"We're delighted to take a lead. To beat their No. 1, it feels great. It's a good start to the weekend but we haven't won yet."

Lucas Pouille was set to make his Davis Cup debut for France in the second singles against Jiri Vesely later Friday.

Tsonga wasted two match points in the tiebreaker to allow the fifth set when he hit the net with a backhand on Rosol's second set point.

He looked tired in the final set. He answered Rosol's break in the opening game but had no reply after he dropped his serve in the seventh game.

Big-serving Tsonga hit 18 aces, but just one in the fifth set.

In the opening set, Rosol broke Tsonga in the seventh game with a passing backhand.

Tsonga came back to the match with a break for a 5-3 lead in the second set and served out the set at love.

In a tight third set, Tsonga saved four break points in the second game and another two in the fourth game before breaking Rosol in the fifth game and hitting an ace on his second set point.