PARIS (AP) - Lucas Pouille will lead defending champion France against Italy in the Davis Cup quarterfinals.
The 10th-ranked Pouille has been selected by France captain Yannick Noah alongside Adrian Mannarino and Jeremy Chardy. Doubles specialists Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut have also been called up.
Pouille wrapped up France’s 10th Davis Cup title last year by winning the decisive point against Belgium in the final.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Richard Gasquet and Gael Monfils have been struggling with injuries recently and were all unavailable. Gasquet, who has recovered from a knee injury, has returned to competition but Noah says a sudden switch from hard court to clay would have been too much to take.
France will travel to Italy for the best-of-five series from April 6-8.
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