Paire to open for France against Spain in Davis Cup

LILLE — Benoit Paire and Lucas Pouille will play for France in the opening singles against Spain in the Davis Cup semifinals.

Making his debut in the competition, Paire will take on 21st-ranked Pablo Carreno Busta on a hard court in the northern city of Lille. The 19th-ranked Pouille will then play Roberto Bautista Agut.

Julien Benneteau and Nicolas Mahut are set to face Marcel Granollers and Feliciano Lopez in Saturday’s doubles.

Spain is without top-ranked Rafael Nadal, who was ruled out because of the right knee injury that forced him to retire from his semifinal match against Juan Martin del Potro last week at the US Open.

The countries are meeting for the ninth time, with Spain leading 6-2. Matches will be played on an indoor court at the 27,500-capacity Pierre Mauroy Stadium, with the roof closed. France won their 10th Davis Cup title last year in the same venue, beating Belgium 3-2.

Jack Sock is out of the United States team for the Davis Cup semifinals against Croatia because of a hip injury and has been replaced by Ryan Harrison.

US captain Jim Courier says Sock was hurt last week while playing in the doubles semifinals at the US Open with Mike Bryan. Harrison was already on standby for the Davis Cup.

Davis Cup semifinals

Friday-Sunday

France vs Spain; Croatia vs US

World Group playoffs

Argentina vs Colombia; Great Britain vs Uzbekistan; Austria vs Australia; Switzerland vs Sweden; Serbia vs India; Canada vs Netherlands, Hungary vs Czech Republic; Japan vs Bosnia Herzegovina.