Marat Safin booked defending champions Russia a spot in the Davis Cup semi-finals here on Sunday, beating France's Paul-Henri Mathieu in straight sets to give the hosts a 3-2 victory. Sebastien Grosjean had handed France a lifeline earlier, beating Igor Andreev to level proceedings at 2-2.
But Mathieu proved to be no match for Safin with his country exiting the competition at the quarter-final stage for the third year in a row at the hands of the Russians.
The Frenchman, who had beaten Nikolay Davydenko in his singles rubber on Friday, struggled to keep pace with Safin, a late inclusion for the decider at the expense of Mikhail Youzhny.
The big-serving Russian, who lost two of his three previous meetings with Mathieu, produced 15 aces to win 7-6 (7/3), 6-3, 6-2 in two hours 28 minutes and advance his side to a showdown with Germany who beat Belgium 3-2 in Ostend.
"I didn't expect our skipper would put me on court this weekend and of course I never expected it would be so easy as I could not find my form in two recent months," said Safin.
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