The world's top doubles pairing saw off Michael Llodra and Julien Benneteau 6-4 6-4 7-6 (7-4) in Monte Carlo to put the Americans on the brink of victory.

The first two sets were close with the Bryans edging their opponents thanks to a break in each, while they had to come out on top in a tie-break to take the third and wrap up the match.

Llodra and Benneteau struggled to make much of an impression, managing to win just five points in the first set on their opponents' serve and never having a break-point opportunity throughout the contest.

France need Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to get the better of John Isner in Sunday's first singles rubber to keep the tie alive. Gilles Simon is then due to face teenager Ryan Harrison in what could be the deciding match.

Czechs ahead

Meanwhile, the Czech Republic are now 2-1 up against Serbia after Radek Stepanek and Tomas Berdych won 6-4 6-2 7-6 (7-4) against Ilija Bozoljac and Nenad Zimonjic.

Janko Tipsarevic had come out on top in a five-hour five-setter on Friday with Stepanek to bring Serbia, who are without world number one Novak Djokovic, level at 1-1 in Prague.

However Berdych - who had crushed Viktor Troicki in the opening rubber - joined forces with Stepanek to edge the home team back ahead, the pair taking the first set with two breaks of serve before dominating the second.

The Serbians broke at the start of the third and then held for 3-0, although their opponents managed to bring it back to 6-6, taking the set to a tie-break.

Tipsarevic and Berdych eased into a 3-0 lead and althoug their rivals levelled, the Czech team moved to 6-4 before serving out for victory.