Czech Republic and France will meet at the quarterfinals stage of the Davis Cup World Group competition between the 15-17 of July in Trinec, Czech Republic. The Czech captain Jaroslav Navratil has chosen indoor hard courts as their preferred choice of surface. The two countries have met a staggering 15 times with France leading their head-to-head 8-7 with the French winning their last meeting 4-1 at Roland Garros in the semifinal stage in 2014.
While the Czech Republic will be without their number one player and world number eight seed Tomas Berdych, they will possess a dangerous team. Jaroslav Navratil has called on Lukas Rosol, Jiri Vesely, Adam Pavlasek and Radek Stepanek to get the job done. France, however, will be without three major top 20 players - Richard Gasquet (back injury), Gael Monfils (viral injury) and Gilles Simon. Yannick Noah has given debuts to Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Wimbledon quarterfinalist Lucas Pouille as well as adding Nicolas Mahut and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to the team.
Pouille, Tsonga face experienced Czech team
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will be the most experienced player this weekend having been part of the French team since 2008, with a win/loss record of 23-7 in both singles and doubles. The 31-year-old will face Lukas Rosol in the opening rubber match. The pair has met four times over Davis Cup and ATP World Tour matches. The Frenchman leads their head-to-head 3-1. Lukas Rosol won their last match in Vienna in 2015 but did lose to the world number ten in their last Davis Cup match in straights at the semifinal stage of the World Group in Roland Garros. The 30-year-old has been part of the Czech Republic team since 2011 and has an 11-8 win/loss record in singles and doubles. He was part of the team that defeated Germany 2-3 in the first round World Group match earlier this year. With the Frenchman returning to his favourite surface of hard courts he will fancy his chances of getting France off to a good start.
Following an excellent season and a quarterfinal place at Wimbledon which has seen Lucas Pouille reach a career high of 21, Yannick Noah has rewarded the 22-year-old with a spot in his Davis Cup team. Pouille will face the experienced Jiri Vesely in the second rubber match. The 23-year-old has been part of the Czech team since 2013 with a 4-4 win/loss record in singles and doubles. The pair has never met in a Davis Cup or ATP World Tour match, but with this being the Frenchman's first experience of a rubber match, Jiri Vesely should come away with the win with a lively and energetic home crowd. The 23-year-old Czech was last part of the team in 2015 losing to Somdev Devvarman in the second rubber match before going on to defeat Yuki Bhambri in the fourth rubber match as the Czech's defeated India in a World Group playoff.
Crucial doubles tie
Although Pierre-Hugues Herbert has been a part of the France Davis Cup team before against Great Britain last year, the 25-year-old has been nominated with Nicolas Mahut as part of their doubles team who will likely face Adam Pavlasek and veteran Radek Stepanek. Herbert's partnership with Mahut has seen them capture five titles this year including Wimbledon last Sunday. While the home crowd will be lively and full of energy, the world number one pair can quieten the crowd and take advantage of Adam Pavlasek who has only been a part of the team once, partnering Radek Stepanek to a victory over India's veteran pairing of Rohan Bopanna and Leander Paes. Although he has only played one rubber match, the 21-year-old should take a lot of confidence from that match ahead of what could turn out to be a crucial doubles tie on Saturday. Expect the French to come through, but the Czech's can give them a fright and take a set off the world's best team.
Reverse singles
In the fourth rubber, Jiri Vesely faces Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. This will be their first meeting. Vesely will come into this having reached his best result at a Grand Slam yet losing to compatriot Tomas Berdych in five sets at Wimbledon. Tsonga pushed Andy Murray to five sets at Wimbledon, but on his favourite surface, he will be no match for Jiri Vesely. However, the youngster will look to use the home crowd to his advantage and try to cause a mini upset.
The final rubber will likely see Lukas Rosol and Lucas Pouille face each other for the very first time. While they have never faced each other, Rosol has the experience and the home crowd and should come through this match and win for the Czech's.
Prediction: France def. Czech Republic 3-2