French slam Queen's Club court conditions after Davis Cup exit

London: Gilles Simon launched a scathing attack on the slippery condition of the Queen`s Club courts after France crashed out of the Davis Cup against Great Britain on Sunday.

Simon suffered knee and ankle injuries after taking nasty falls in his 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3, 6-0 defeat against Andy Murray.

The loss condemned last year`s runners-up to a quarter-final exit that world number 11 Simon blamed largely on the court.

"I`ve played 10 years on grass and this court is the most slippery court I ever felt," Simon said.

"I fell four or five times. I felt it from the warm-up. I had to pay attention on every shot.

"Andy had to fight also to stay on his legs and he was doing it better than me. I lost a few key points because of that."

Simon`s France team-mate Jo-Wilfried Tsonga had also grumbled about the court after slipping several times during his singles defeat against Murray on Friday.

France captain Arnaud Clement said he wouldn`t make an official complaint, but he supported Simon`s criticism.

"I think everybody saw what happened this weekend. The court was very slippery and a bit dangerous. But it was the same for both teams," he said.

It was a painful end to the Davis Cup campaign for nine-time winners France, but Clement conceded Britain, inspired by three Murray victories, had deserved to advance to the last four for the first time since 1981.

"The British team were a little more solid. In a lot of sets this weekend just one or two points could change thing, but they deserved the win," Clement said.

"It was a great performance for Andy to play three days in a row and he still looked great at the end today.

"The Davis Cup means a lot in France, so this is a difficult moment.

"We have to think about this and try to be better next year. Something is missing."