Injured Sluiter hands France lead

Dutchman Raemon Sluiter handed France a 1-0 lead in their Davis Cup semifinal on Friday, retiring with an ankle injury while leading Arnaud Clement.

Sluiter was 2-1 ahead in the third set with the match poised at one set all in Rotterdam's Ahoy stadium when the local hero was forced to quit.

The Rotterdam-born Sluiter started the match well and took the opening set by storm, breaking Australian Open finalist Clement in the third and ninth games to win it 6-3.

He kept the pressure up in the second set as The Netherlands looked to reach their first Davis Cup final.

Clement fought off two breakpoints in the second game, though, and pushed Sluiter to deuce in the third, when Sluiter hurt his ankle.

The Dutch team doctor taped the ankle and Sluiter carried on. It was obvious the 23-year-old was hurt, however, and Clement grew in confidence and stature.

The Frenchman reeled off five games in a row to take the set 6-2 and level the match.

Wincing in pain, Sluiter started the third set and won his two service games to lead the set 2-1 before Dutch team captain Tjerk Bogtstra said his player could no longer carry on.

Dutchman Sjeng Schalken is due to face Nicolas Escude in the second singles match of the tie.

The winner of the best-of-five match semifinal will face either Australia or Sweden in November's final. They are locked at 1-1 after Friday's opening matches.