LILLE, France — The doubles pair Julien Benneteau and Nicolas Mahut sealed France’s win over Spain in their Davis Cup semifinal on Saturday, giving the defending champions an unassailable 3-0 lead.
The French veterans, both 36, defeated Marcel Granollers and Feliciano López, 6-0, 6-4, 7-6 (7), on the indoor hardcourt set up inside the Pierre Mauroy soccer stadium.
France reached back-to-back finals for the first time since 2002.
France, which won both singles matches on Friday, will face either Croatia or the United States in the final.
Spain was without top-ranked Rafael Nadal, who was ruled out because of the right-knee injury that forced him to retire from his United States Open semifinal against Juan Martín del Potro last week.