France will host a Davis Cup game outside continental Europe for the first time next March 4-6 after choosing Guadeloupe in the Caribbean as the venue for their World Group clash with Canada. "I'm delighted that this first round event will take place in Guadeloupe. It's a histori
France will host a Davis Cup game outside continental Europe for the first time next March 4-6 after choosing Guadeloupe in the Caribbean as the venue for their World Group clash with Canada.
"I'm delighted that this first round event will take place in Guadeloupe. It's a historic first and I thank Yannick Noah and the players for leading the initiative," said French tennis Federation president Jean Gachassin.
Guadeloupe, as with other so called overseas departments, is an integral part of France. It is thus part of the European Union.
The match will be the first overseen by returning captain Noah, who oversaw French victories in 1991 and 1996.
Noah, 55, who won the Roland-Garros French Open in 1983, was recently appointed to take over from the departing Arnaud Clement in the hope of inspiring a first French Davis Cup win since 2001.
The new captain wanted the event staged on the Caribbean island so as to take advantage of the clay courts and limit the chances of Canada's hard-hitting Milos Raonic.
Photo: Representative purpose
