Tennis: Mathieu outlasts Moya to give France Davis Cup lead

Alicante, Spain (Sports Network) - Paul-Henri Mathieu gave France a 1-0 lead Friday in its best-of-five Davis Cup semifinal tie against Spain.

Mathieu defeated veteran Carlos Moya 6-3, 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 on the red clay at Alicante, Spain in a match that lasted just over 4 1/2 hours.

"I knew it would be tough," Moya said. "He (Mathieu) does everything well, but still I think today I was controlling the match and then in the fourth and fifth sets I had many chances. I think I lost it. I'm sorry for the spectators who were excellent in supporting me, but I gave everything and I can't really explain why I didn't win."

The Frenchman, who is ranked 77th in the world, snapped Moya's eight-match Davis Cup winning streak, dating back to February 2001.