Thursday 23 November 2017 13:35, UK
France's captain Yannick Noah caused a shock by dropping doubles stars Nicolas Mahut and Julien Benneteau for the Davis Cup final against Belgium, which starts on Friday.
Mahut had played in all three previous World Group ties this season, including the quarter-final encounter against Great Britain.
Noah has, instead, opted for Richard Gasquet and Pierre-Hugues Herbert who will take on Joris De Loore and Ruben Bemelmans in Saturday's doubles match at the Stade Pierre Mauroy in Lille.
"I don't want to speak about the players who are not there," Noah said when asked to explain his decision.
"It does not mean that I don't think about them. Now we have a goal to achieve, the final starts tomorrow. I have four players ready to do their best and defend our colours."
Belgium have twice been beaten in finals, most recently against an Andy Murray-inspired Great Britain in 2015.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Lucas Pouille are the other players involved in the face-off against a Belgian team led by David Goffin.
Herbert's inclusion comes despite the 26-year-old suffering a back injury which caused the doubles pair to forfeit their last group match at the ATP Finals in London last week.
Goffin will open play for Belgium against Pouille on Friday, and Steve Darcis will follow against Tsonga.
Noah added: "The first time I played for France in Davis Cup it was against the best pair in the world. I played with Francois Jauffret and we won. There is always a first time for everything."
Captains have until one hour before matches to change their line-up and Tsonga said he will be ready to play three days in a row if Noah asks him to take part in the doubles at the last minute.
Nine-time champion France lost its three previous finals, in 2002, 2010 and 2014. Seeking its first title since 2001, it is under huge pressure against a Belgian team happy to contend with the outsider tag.
Belgium, in the final for the second time in three years, will count on Goffin in its quest for a first title.
Goffin arrived in Lille, where the hosts have opted for an indoor hard court, with his confidence boosted by a runner-up spot at the ATP Finals, having beaten Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in the tournament.
"I'm happy to start the first match," Goffin said. "Steve preferred to play second. It's the perfect draw for us. But it's won't be easy to start against Lucas, I never beat him before. The key will be to play relax and to play my best tennis."
Davis Cup final draw (France names first):
Friday
Lucas Pouille v David Goffin
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga v Steve Darcis
Saturday
Richard Gasquet/Pierre-Hugues Herbert v Ruben Bemelmans/Joris de Loore
Sunday
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga v David Goffin
Lucas Pouille v Steve Darcis
