ALBERTVILLE – France embark upon the defence of their Davis Cup title without the services of their star player, the injured Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, when they face the Netherlands this weekend.
Tsonga will be with the team but sat alongside captain Yannick Noah in the stands due to a knee strain, while Adrian Mannarino has been drafted in as a replacement.
The French Tennis Federation tweeted the news on Thursday and confirmed that Mannarino, ranked 25th in the world as opposed to Tsonga's 19th ranking and picking up his first selection for the national team, would arrive at their training base at Albertville later in the day.
France remain firm favourites to win the match with the Dutch, lining up with Lucas Pouille, Pierre-Hugues Herbert, Richard Gasquet, Nicolas Mahut and Mannarino.
Noah, the 1983 Roland Garros champion, led France to victory in the Davis Cup final against Belgium last November.
The schedule for the Davis Cup clash:
Friday
Lucas Pouille (FRA) v Thiemo de Bakker (NED)
Richard Gasquet (FRA) v Robin Haase (NED)
Saturday
Nicolas Mahut/Pierre-Hugues Herbert (FRA) v Jean-Julien Rojer/Matwe Middelkoop (NED)
Sunday
Lucas Pouille (FRA) v Robin Haase (NED)
Richard Gasquet (FRA) v Thiemo de Bakker (NED)