PARIS — Richard Gasquet has pulled out of France’s first-round Davis Cup match against Germany next week because of lower back pains and has been replaced by Edouard Roger-Vasselin.
Gasquet’s absence is a further blow for Davis Cup runner-up France. Captain Arnaud Clement is already missing France No. 1 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who is still recovering from a right forearm injury.
The French face the Germans from March 6-8 in Frankfurt in a reprise of last year’s quarterfinal when the French came back from a 2-0 deficit to win.
The 31-year-old Roger-Vasselin, who is ranked 143rd, will line up alongside Gael Monfils, Gilles Simon and fellow Davis Cup debutant Nicolas Mahut, who is 33.
Germany captain Michael Kohlmann has named Philipp Kohlschreiber, Benjamin Becker, Jan-Lennard Struff and Andre Begemann in his team.