US makes Davis Cup semifinals

ROQUEBRUNE, France  — John Isner’s big serve and solid forehand proved too strong for Jo-Wilfried Tsonga as he beat the Frenchman 6-3, 7-6 (4) 5-7, 6-3 on Sunday to ease the United States into the Davis Cup semifinals.

Tsonga had chances, but could only break his serve once as the Americans took an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series, setting up a match against Spain in the final.

“I gave everything I could in the battle,” Tsonga said. “I didn’t have much luck today and John took his chances. At 0-3 down in the fourth set, it became ’Mission Impossible.”’

Isner built on the U.S. team’s momentum after winning Saturday’s doubles in straight sets, without facing a break point, while the pressure was clearly on the sixth-ranked Tsonga to level the match.

“You have to congratulate him. John Isner was huge today,” France captain Guy Forget said.

Later, Gilles Simon was scheduled to play the 19-year-old Ryan Harrison in the meaningless final rubber at the Monte Carlo Country club.

It will be Forget’s last match as France’s Davis Cup  captain.   /ap