PARIS (AP) - Pauline Parmentier will open play against in-form Elise Mertens in France’s Fed Cup first-round tie against Belgium on Saturday.
France’s top player, Kristina Mladenovic, will take on Kirsten Flipkens in the second singles on the indoor hard-court of Mouilleron-le-Captif, in western France.
Mertens made it to the Australian Open semifinals last month, losing to eventual champion Caroline Wozniaki.
Sunday features the reverse singles and doubles.
France is without Alize Cornet, who has not been selected after she missed three out-of-competition doping tests in the past year. Cornet is under investigation by the International Tennis Federation.
France and Belgium are meeting for a fifth time, with the hosts leading 3-1.
The winner will be face the United States or the Netherlands in the semifinals in April.
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