TORONTO – Milos Raonic and veteran Daniel Nestor will lead Canada’s Davis Cup team against France in their World Group first-round tie in February.
They will joined by Frank Dancevic of Niagara Falls, Ont., and Vancouver’s Vasek Pospisil at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre in Vancouver for the Feb. 10-12 tie.
Peter Polansky of Thornhill, Ont., will also be in Vancouver with the team as a fifth player.
The hard-hitting Raonic, a 21-year-old from Thornhill, is ranked 28th in the world. The 39-year-old Nestor, a left-hander from Toronto is ranked third in doubles.
The French team includes world No. 6 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, No. 13 Gael Monfils and doubles specialists Julien Benneteau and Michael Llodra.
“France will obviously be a tough challenge with so many top players, but I believe in this group and their ability to rise to the occasion,” Canadian captain Martin Laurendeau said in a statement. “We are a confident team after overcoming last year’s obstacles and there is a camaraderie and respect for one another that is essential for Davis Cup success.”
The Canadian team won road ties against Mexico, Ecuador and Israel last year to advance to the World Group for the first time since 2004.
Dancevic has competed for Canada’s Davis Cup team every year since 2002 except in 2008 when he was hampered with a back injury. He holds an 11-3 record in home Davis Cup matches.
Nestor holds the record for most years played by a Canadian in Davis Cup at 19. He also holds the record for most wins (44), most doubles wins (29) and most ties played (40).
