Martin Leads U.S. Past France To Advance In Davis Cup Field

Todd Martin, who struggled from the baseline in his first match, charged and volleyed past Guy Forget on Sunday to lift the U.S. Davis Cup team to a first-round victory over France.

Martin served 20 aces and came to the net 63 times in a 6-3, 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-5) triumph that moves the United States to the next round against Italy. The victory gave the United States an unbeatable 3-1 lead, and Jim Courier completed the 4-1 triumph by downing Cedric Pioline 6-4, 6-3.

Martin, ranked 13th in the world, won the point three-quarters of the time he came to the net on the fast indoor carpet, the last time coming on match point when a Forget passing shot tripped the net and Martin slammed it for a winner to the cheers of a red, white and blue crowd of more than 4,000 at the Bayfront Center.