United Cup: France beat Casper Ruud’s Norway to set up meeting with Poland in semi-finals

France won the decisive mixed doubles to beat Casper Ruud’s Norway and progress into the semi-finals of the United Cup in Sydney.

Caroline Garcia gave the French side a 1-0 lead with a hard-fought singles victory over Malene Helgo before Ruud levelled the tie, dispatching Adrian Mannarino in clinical fashion.

But Ruud and Ulrikke Eikeri were no match for Garcia and Edouard Roger-Vasselin in the doubles, with the French pair wrapping up the 2-1 win in straight sets.

On the other half of the draw, Australia await the winner between Germany and Greece in the other last-four clash.

The final takes place on Sunday inside the Ken Rosewall Arena.

Garcia survived a scare against Malene Helgo in the opening singles. The Frenchwoman made a serene start, breaking her opponent twice to take the first set in little over half an hour before Helgo hit back.

The Norwegian, who is ranked 544th in the world, came from 5-2 behind in the second-set tie-break and match point down at 5-6 to level the contest after winning six out of seven points.

The decider was another tense affair. Garcia got on the front foot early, breaking to move 4-1 clear, but Helgo once again displayed her battling qualities. She fought back to force another tie-break but Garcia wouldn’t be denied, eventually getting over the line on her third match point to seal a 6-2 6-7(6) 7-6(5) victory.

Up next, Ruud made light work of Mannarino to level the tie at 1-1. The veteran Frenchman won the only previous meeting between the pair but was no match for Ruud on this occasion.

The Norwegian raced into a 5-0 lead in the opener. Mannarino got on the board to avoid a bagel but Ruud completed a 6-1 6-4 demolition in just an hour and 17 minutes.

That paved the way for a decisive mixed doubles as Ruud returned with Eikeri to take on Garcia and Roger-Vasselin for a place in the last four.

And the Norwegian pair were made to pay for not taking their chances in a tight opener. Three set points on the French serve came and went in the 10th game before Garcia and Roger-Vasselin broke to love and snatched the early advantage.

Opportunities were scarce in the next set, but it was once again the French who were more clinical. They moved a break ahead at 2-1 and completed the 7-5 6-4 win for the loss of just three points on serve in the second set.