Czechs lead France as Rosol stuns Tsonga

PRAGUE — Lukas Rosol handed the Czech Republic a 1-0 lead over France in their Davis Cup World Group quarterfinal tie Friday after beating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in a five-set thriller. 
The 78th-ranked Rosol stunned world number 10 Tsonga 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (10/8), 6-4 in three hours and 52 minutes. 
The game started with a minute's silence for the victims of Thursday's terror attack in Nice that left at least 84 dead, of which 10 were children or youths. 
On the hardcourt of the Werk Arena in the eastern Czech town of Trinec, the big-serving, 30-year-old Rosol got off to an impressive start, taking the first set on a single break. 
But Tsonga, who is 31, regained his first serve in the second set and took a 2-1 lead with a break in each set. 
Both held on to their serve in set four, with Rosol taking it in a thrilling tie-break after escaping from two match points. 
Rosol and Tsonga traded breaks in the first two games of set five but the Czech then added another and converted his third match point. 
"I have no words for what happened on the court today," Rosol told the Czech Television after the game. 
"It's a fantastic feeling to play as number two against a number one and win in five sets." 
"I'm simply in a good shape." 
The second rubber Friday sees French young gun Lucas Pouille, the world No. 21, face the Czech Republic's Jiri Vesely, ranked 50th. 
In Saturday's doubles rubber, veteran Radek Stepanek and Adam Pavlasek are due to face fresh Wimbledon champions Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert. 
For the reverse singles Sunday, Vesely will first face Tsonga and Rosol is due to play against Pouille. 
The Czech Republic won the Davis Cup in 2012 and 2013, while France last lifted the trophy in 2001. 
The winner of the tie will face either the United States or Croatia in the semifinals. Raonic out of Olympics over Zika fears Wimbledon runner-up Milos Raonic said Friday he was withdrawing from the Olympics because of fears over the Zika virus, dealing another blow to the tennis tournament in Rio. 
The world No. 7 from Canada, who was defeated by Andy Murray in Sunday's Wimbledon final, said he had taken the decision "with a heavy heart". 
"It is with a heavy heart that I am announcing my withdrawal from participation in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games," the 25-year-old announced on his Facebook page. 
"After much deliberation with my family and coaches, I am making this decision for a variety of health concerns including the uncertainty around the Zika virus. 
"This was a difficult, personal choice and I do not wish for it to impact the decision of any other athlete heading to the Games." 
John Isner of the United States, Austria's Dominic Thiem, Australian duo Bernard Tomic and Nick Kyrgios as well as Spanish veteran Feliciano Lopez have all opted, for various reasons, not to take part in the Olympics. 
Italy's former French Open champion Francesca Schiavone has also turned down the opportunity to play in Rio while former world number ones Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka will also be missing. 
Sharapova is serving a doping suspension while Azarenka announced Friday that she is pregnant and won't compete again in 2016.