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France picks Mahut over Monfils for GB Davis Cup clash

Nicolas Mahut of France reacts during his men's singles match against compatriot Gilles Simon at the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, May 29, 2015. REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol (Reuters)

PARIS (Reuters) - France have left Gael Monfils out of their team to play Great Britain in the Davis Cup next week, preferring lower-ranked Nicolas Mahut for his grasscourt and doubles skills - as predicted by Monfils himself. Mahut, ranked 66 in the world and who has struggled with thigh pain at this year's Wimbledon, is joined for the World Group quarter-final clash in London by Richard Gasquet (world number 20), Gilles Simon (13) and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (12). Pierre-Hugues Herbert, who has played doubles with Mahut, was named as replacement in an official team statement on Tuesday. Monfils, the world number 18, lost a five-set thriller to Simon at Wimbledon on Saturday, and said after his third-round defeat he did not expect to be picked. "Quite honestly, I don't have a place in the Davis Cup," he told reporters. "There's an impression that I can play well on grass, but it's nothing but an impression." The Davis Cup tie takes place at Queen's Club in west London between July 17-19. (Reporting by Andrew Callus and Gregory Blachier, editing by Stephen Wood)