Davis Cup: France lose Jo-Wilfried Tsonga due to injury

France will be without talisman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the Davis Cup, who has a knee strain.

France embark upon the defence of their Davis Cup title without the services of their star player, the injured Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, when they face the Netherlands this weekend.

France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga signs autographs during a training session ahead of the Davis Cup tennis match between France and the Netherlands at the Halle Olympique Stadium in Albertville. (AFP)

Tsonga will be with the team but sat alongside captain Yannick Noah in the stands due to a knee strain, while Adrian Mannarino has been drafted in as a replacement.

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The French Tennis Federation tweeted the news on Thursday and confirmed that Mannarino, ranked 25th in the world as opposed to Tsonga’s 19th ranking and picking up his first selection for the national team, would arrive at their training base at Albertville later in the day.

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France remain firm favourites to win the match with the Dutch, lining up with Lucas Pouille, Pierre-Hugues Herbert, Richard Gasquet, Nicolas Mahut and Mannarino.