Rafter squares final

Rafter was a break down in the second set

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Pat Rafter shrugged off his tendinitis to beat Sebastien Grosjean 6-3 7-6 (8/6) 7-5 and pull Australia level with France in the Davis Cup final.

Earlier, France took a 1-0 lead in Melbourne when Nicolas Escude maintained his perfect record in Davis Cup singles play.

He won his seventh consecutive match to beat Lleyton Hewitt 4-6 6-3 3-6 6-3 6-4.

Rafter was down a break in the second set and Grosjean was serving for the set at 5-3 when Rafter broke back and then sent it into a tiebreaker.

Grosjean had three set points in the tiebreaker but Rafter saved all three.

The Frenchman then double-faulted to set up set point, then hit a forehand long to give Rafter the tiebreaker 8-6 and the second set.

Rafter completed his win in less than two hours, breaking Grosjean's serve in the final game to the delight of the home crowd.

He been fighting to stay fit for the match after suffering in the past several weeks from tendinitis in his right arm.

"I've done a lot of work in training to try to get the arm right, and I'm glad it's worked out," Rafter said afterwards.

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Davis Cup final draw

Saturday's doubles (0300 GMT)
Wayne Arthurs & Todd Woodbridge v Cedric Pioline & Fabrice Santoro

Sunday's reverse singles (0000 GMT)
Lleyton Hewitt v Sebastien Grosjean
Pat Rafter v Nicolas Escude

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