Gabriel Diallo withdraws from Canada’s Davis Cup tie against France due to leg injury

Gabriel Diallo withdrew from Canada’s upcoming Davis Cup tie against France due to a leg injury, Tennis Canada said Monday.

Diallo, who was hurt at the National Bank Open last month in his hometown of Montreal, was replaced by Keegan Rice for the second-round qualifier starting Friday at Videotron Centre.

“I’m of course disappointed and sad that I won’t be able to compete with the team in Quebec City,” Diallo said in a statement. “The Davis Cup means so much to me, and it’s one of the events I look forward to most each year.

“While I continue to rehab my leg injury, I do plan to make my way to Quebec City to cheer on the team. I hope the fans will be ready to support us as loudly as possible and help us get back to the finals.”

Twelfth-ranked Canada won the Davis Cup in 2022. No. 6 France last won the title in 2017.

The winner of the best-of-five tie will advance to the Davis Cup Final 8 in November. The losing side will fall into the 2027 first-round qualifier.

Diallo holds the No. 125 position in the latest ATP Tour world rankings. Rice, who won the NCAA national championship with the University of Virginia, made his ATP 1000 debut in Montreal as a qualifier.

Canada’s lineup also includes fifth-ranked Félix Auger-Aliassime of Montreal, No. 205 Liam Draxl of Newmarket, Ont., and Duncan Chan (No. 254 in doubles) of Markham, Ont.

Two singles matches and one doubles match will be played Friday. Two more singles matches, if necessary, will be played Saturday.

The French side has also made some changes since releasing its roster last month.

World No. 11 Arthur Fils has withdrawn while No. 42 Luca Van Assche and No. 92 Benjamin Bonzi have been added. They join a lineup that includes No. 32 Arthur Rinderknech, No. 49 Quentin Halys and Pierre-Hugues Herbert (No. 29 in doubles).

Canada edged Brazil 3-2 in the first round of qualifiers last February. France qualified by defeating Slovakia 3-1.