Intro:

France have taken a 2-0 lead over Australia in the Davis Cup.

Richard Gasquet and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga won their singles rubbers on the opening day of the tie in La Roche sur Yon.

Script:

France took command of their Davis Cup clash with Australia on the clay courts in La Roche sur Yon.

The opening encounter pitted Australian teenager Nick Kyrgios against the world number nine Richard Gasquet.

To his credit, Kyrgios took Gasquet all the way to a tiebreak in the first set before the Frenchman finally prevailed.

But the resistance of the Australian - who was hampered with a lower arm problem - began to crumble and Gasquet was able to ease to a 7-6, 6-2, 6-2 triumph to put Arnaud Clement's side 1-0 up.

World number ten Jo-Wilfried Tsonga then took on Australian veteran Lleyton Hewitt in the second singles rubber.

Tsonga came out blazing - moving ahead with one break of serve in the first set which he took 6-3.

The second set was an even more one-sided affair - as the Frenchman turned on the style.

Hewitt battled gamely on and took the third set into a tiebreak - but there was no stopping Tsonga from wrapping up a 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 win.

The French doubles team of Julien Benneteau and Gael Monfils will now have the chance to seal victory for the home side by taking an unassailable 3-0 lead if they can prevail over Hewitt and Chris Guccione in Saturday's doubles match.