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Michael Llodra of France reacts during his single Davis Cup world group semi-final tennis match...
Michael Llodra produced some fine attacking tennis to put France a 1-0 ahead against Argentina in their Davis Cup semi-final with a 7-5 4-6 7-5 6-3 victory over Juan Monaco on Friday.World number 30 Llodra went to the net, served well and recovered from a second-set hiccup to prevail after thee hours and 21 minutes.
French number one Gael Monfils was facing David Nalbandian in Friday's second singles match.
Llodra cancelled out an early break to bag the opening set with a superb forehand down the line, triggering wild celebrations in a packed Palais des Sports.
In the stands where a few Olympique Lyon football players, including Argentine Cesar Delgado, who left his team mates to cheer on his country.
Despite the cries of support from Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Julien Benneteau, who are missing the tie through injury, Llodra conceded the second set as Monaco peppered the court with forehand winners.
He admitted he was nervous going onto the court.
"I did not sleep well, I was more nervous than usual," Llodra told reporters.
"I did not play a great match but I focused on doing simple things, like play my attacking game. It was not perfect but that's 1-0 for France."
Llodra continued to attack and broke Monaco's resilience on his fifth set point to move ahead courtesy of a dazzling backhand down the line.
The Parisian stayed hot in the fourth set, dropping only five points on his serve to end the contest with his 22nd ace.
"It probably turned his way in the beginning of the third set," Monaco told reporters. "At that point it could have gone either way but he played well, he took risks and it eventually paid off."
France last won the men's team event in 2001 while Argentina are hoping to go one better this year than their three runners-up finishes.
The winner of the tie will take on either Serbia or the Czech Republic.
(Writing by Julien Pretot; Editing by Pritha Sarkar; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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