Summary France received second blow ahead of their Davis Cup World Group semi-final as Monfils was ruled out
ZADAR, Croatia, Sept 14, 2016 (AFP) - France received a second blow ahead of their Davis Cup World Group semi-final clash in Croatia with US Open semi-finalist Gael Monfils ruled out Wednesday with a knee injury.
World number eight Monfils pulled up with a bad pain in his knee during training, aggravating an injury he picked up on his arrival at his hotel in Zadar.
France are already without Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who was forced out of his US Open quarter-final clash with Novak Djokovic with a left knee problem.
Richard Gasquet, ranked 17th, who had been called up in to replace Tsonga, will now fulfil singles duties, along with 18th-ranked Lucas Pouille.
"It s a shock for us," France captain Yannick Noah said on the French Tennis Federation website.
"We gave him the morning off but at midday (Wednesday) it still wasn t better. So we had to make a decision and as we speak he should be on his way home.
"We ve worked a lot with Richard. He already worked a lot in Paris and we pushed him hard. Richard is ready."
The two countries have met once before in 2004, with France winning 4-1 winners in Metz. The winner will meet either defending champions Great Britain or Argentina in November s final.
