An inspired Caroline Garcia has thrust France into the last four of the United Cup after upstaging Norwegian linchpin Casper Ruud in an epic quarter-final that lasted six-and-a-half hours.
Garcia and Edouard Roger-Vasselin teamed up to score a thrilling 7-5 6-4 win over Ruud and Ulrikke Eikeri in the deciding mixed doubles rubber in Sydney on Thursday night.
Ruud, the highest-ranked player in the tie, had levelled up proceedings with a 6-1 6-4 "revenge" win over Adrian Mannarino in the men's singles after Garcia preserved her unbeaten record for the week with a 6-2 6-7 (6-8) 7-6 (7-5) victory over unfancied Malene Helgo.
Garcia, the world No.20 and the 2022 WTA Finals champion, was made to work for more than two and a half hours before seeing off the 544th-ranked Helgo.
The one-time world No.3 was mightily relieved to have finally prevailed an hour after after missing the chance to close out victory with a match point in the second set.
"It was a crazy match, a crazy performance from Helgo," Garcia said.
"I didn't know her very well and she just played a crazy match, was hitting the ball so well.
"I went through all the emotions. It's only the third match of the season and I'm exhausted already."
Three-time grand slam finalist Ruud rose to the occasion with a must-win victory over Mannarino at Ken Rosewall Arena, but came up short in the mixed as fourth seeds France booked a semi-final on Saturday with Poland.
Garcia looms as a serious pre-Australian Open test for world No.1 Iga Swiatek as top seeds Poland remain favourites to take out the $US10 million mixed teams' showpiece.
The mercurial 30-year-old former Fed Cup hero has also conquered returning former world No.1 and three-time grand slam champion Angelique Kerber this week and says she lives to play for her country.
"It's so nice," Garcia said.
"I mean, we play individual sports and a few times a year we have the chance to to represent Team France."
Greece and German square off in the last quarter-final in Sydney on Friday night, with the winners to take on tournament hosts Australia on Saturday.
