By Tennisweek
France’s most explosive fast-court player is out of this weekend’s Davis Cup quarterfinal clash against the United States.
Australian Open finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, an expected singles starter for France, has withdrawn from this weekend’s tie in Winston-Salem, N.C. suffering from a lateral meniscus injury to his right knee, Davis Cup referee Wayne McKewen announced today.
Arnaud Clement, a 2001 Australian Open finalist and reigning Wimbledon doubles champion with Michael Llodra, has replaced Tsonga on the squad. Tsonga has left the United States and flown back to France for treatment on his knee.
In Tsonga’s absence, French captain Guy Forget will likely select 12th-ranked Paul-Henri Mathieu as the second singles starter behind the extremely talented, but enigmatic Richard Gasquet.
U.S. Davis Cup captain Patrick McEnroe said all four French players are capable of starting in singles or doubles.
“I will expect the unexpected,”McEnroe told USTA.com. “They have a lot of versatility in their players. I certainly don’t go in really wondering or worrying about it. As I said, we’ve got our four guys. If we play well and play at the top of our game, we feel good about our chances. Certainly I think Guy (Forget) has more options available, maybe depending on how the guys look and adjust to the court, it being as quick as it is. It would not surprise me if there’s some changes.”
McEnroe has reconvened the same cast of players — No. 1 singles starter Andy Roddick, No. 2 singles starter James Blake and twins and doubles players Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan — that beat defending champion Russia to capture the Americans’ first Davis Cup championship in 12 years in Portland last December. The Bryan brothers are bidding for their 10th consecutive Davis Cup doubles victory, but figure to be tested by Llodra and Clement.
Llodra and Clement topped the top-seeded Bryan brothers, 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 to win the Wimbledon doubles championship last summer and the pair will probably reunite for Saturday’s doubles match could play a major part in deciding the Davis Cup quarterfinal.
Recent Comments