Philippousis gives Aussies 1-0 lead

Philippousis, who used his booming first serve to great effect, broke his opponent five times in the match while allowing Grosjean only one service break in the opening set.

French captain Guy Forget had predicted that a tall and heavy player like the world No 19 would have trouble on the indoor clay surface and tire quickly, but the Australian was rarely in trouble.

Grosjean, playing in his first Davis Cup season, played limply and it was the Frenchman who was forced to do all the running in the one-sided match.

Lleyton Hewitt plays France’s Cedirc Pioline, ranked 13 in the world, in the second singles. Australia have won the Cup 26 times and the French eight times, including twice in the 1990s when they were underdogs.