Richard Gasquet (86th in the world at 35) was preferred to Hugo Gaston (66th at 21) to complete the French Davis Cup team which enters the competition this Thursday, November 25 against the Czech Republic.
Captain Sébastien Grosjean had brought a group of six players to Innsbruck which he had to reduce to five for the competition. It is therefore Gasquet, Arthur Rinderknech (58th), Adrian Mannarino (71st), Nicolas Mahut (5th in doubles) and Pierre-Hugues Herbert (8th in doubles) who will defend the colors of France.
Grosjean therefore chose the experience of Gasquet facing the ardor of his young compatriot from Toulouse with the latest results, however more convincing (quarter-final at the Masters 1000 in Paris in particular).
Gasquet made his Davis Cup debut in 2005 and will participate in his 21st campaign. He played 30 matches with a record of 18 wins for 12 losses (14 v-10 d in singles and 4 v-2 d in doubles).
He was part of the team that won the Silver Bowl in 2017 and the finalist teams in 2014 and 2018 (he had not played in the final).
This year he reached the final in Umag (ATP 250), the quarterfinals in Lyon (ATP 250), Parma (ATP 250) and Winston Salem (ATP 250), the 2nd round in Doha (ATP 250), Dubai (ATP 500), Estoril (ATP 250), Roland-Garros and Wimbledon.
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