Richard Gasquet has withdrawn from the Davis Cup final against Croatia to be held at the Pierre Mauroy at Villeneuve d’Asq in Lille on 23-25 November 2018.
Gasquet lost against Jack Sock in the second round in his final match of his up-and down season in Paris Bercy, where he suffered from a thigh injury. In 2018 the French player had a record of 35 wins to 23 defeats finishing the season outside the top 25 for the second year in a row.
Gasquet played in 30 Davis Cup ties and played for France for eleven seasons at this event since 2005. He beat Roger Federer winning the only point in the final against Switzerland in Lille in 2014. In last year’s final he won the doubles match teaming up with Ruben Bemelmans and Joris De Loore in four sets contributing to the French triumph in front of their home fans.
French captain Yannick Noah will rely on a strong doubles team formed Nicolas Mahut and Pierre Hugues Herbert, who are playing at the Nitto ATP Finals in London. Noah, who guided France to the Davis Cup triumph over Belgium last year, will have to choose between Lucas Pouille, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Benoit Paire for the singles matches.
The Pierre Mauroy Stadium will stage the Davis Cup Final for the third time in five years. France lost to Switzerland in 2014 before beating Belgium to claim a historic title in 2017. Noah will be in charge for the last time as captain of the French Davis Cup team.
France tied Croatia 1-1 in their previous two Davis Cup matches. The Bleus prevailed 4-1 in a 2014 Davis Cup first round clash in Metz. Croatia beat France 3-2 on home soil in the semifinals in 2016, when Marin Cilic won both singles matches and partnered Ivan Dodig to a doubles victory.
