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Davis Cup 2014: Tsonga, Monfils, Gasquet, Benneteau and Simon named in France team

Richard Gasquet, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Gael Monfils, Gilles Simon and France captain Arnaud Clement
Image: Richard Gasquet, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Gael Monfils, Gilles Simon and France captain Arnaud Clement prepare

France captain Arnaud Clement named a team with few surprises to contest the Davis Cup final against Switzerland in Lille from November 21-23.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Gael Monfils, Richard Gasquet, Julien Benneteau and Gilles Simon are recalled after helping France beat the Czech Republic 4-1 in the semi-finals in September.

Tsonga, Monfils, Gasquet, and Simon are already training with France in Bordeaux and could be joined by Benneteau this week should he suffer an early elimination from the ATP Tour Finals in London where he is playing the doubles with Edouard Roger-Vasselin.

"It's a childhood dream that I'm living, there is just one step to go but it's a relatively high step," said Tsonga.

"I hope that I will be at the highest level and we're going to fulfil the challenge that awaits us with this team," added the French No 1.

"We're thinking every day about the matches against (Roger) Federer and (Stan) Wawrinka and each training session will help us be ready for the final. It is a combination of fear and excitement," added the former Australian Open finalist.

Close unity

Clement believes the team have bonded well and that preparations have so far gone nicely to plan.

More from Davis Cup Final 2014

"Honestly, the bonds between them are very, very strong. You can feel that they're happy to be back together in this kind of environment and chasing the same objective," said Clement.

We're thinking every day about the matches against (Roger) Federer and (Stan) Wawrinka and each training session will help us be ready for the final. It is a combination of fear and excitement.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

"It's going to be a great experience for them and unforgettable I'm sure.

"They all arrived (at the camp) in good shape and have been playing on clay which is good and they got into training straight away with a great deal of intensity. We need to build up slowly so that we're completely ready to go for the first match.

"It's also about the quality of our preparation, to look after themselves physically, get the right treatment and eat and drink properly. There are a lot of little details that could make the difference," added Clement.

Swiss captain Severin Luethi named his team last week for the tie at the 27,000-seater Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

Federer and Wawrinka, who are also playing the ATP World Tour Finals in London, will be joined in northern France by Marco Chiudinelli and Michael Lammer, ranked 198th and 513th respectively.

The draw for the France-Swiss tie will take place on November 20. Until then both teams have the option of changing two of their five players.

It will be the 13th meeting between both countries with France leading 10-2, having won their last meeting in 2004.

Le Bleus have won the Davis Cup nine times, most recently in 2001, but also reached the 2010 final where they were beaten 3-2 by a Serbia side led by world number one Novak Djokovic in Belgrade.

Switzerland have never lifted the famous trophy and came closest to victory in 1992 when they were beaten 3-1 in the final by the United States.