France play for their place in the Davis Cup Final 8 on Friday and Saturday in Quebec City, and they play it without their best player: Arthur Fils has withdrawn. Paul-Henri Mathieu takes Arthur Rinderknech, Benjamin Bonzi, Quentin Halys, Luca Van Assche and Pierre-Hugues Herbert to face Felix Auger-Aliassime's Canada.
Why is Arthur Fils not travelling?
France's No. 1 had been selected since 17 August. He was due to wear the French shirt for the first time since February 2025; he pulled out on 7 September.
The reason is a whole season. A stress fracture in his back kept him off the court from late May 2025 to early February 2026, and the physical setbacks kept coming, despite his first Masters 1000 title in Cincinnati in August and a first-round US Open exit to Stefanos Tsitsipas. "I have to be careful," he explained: before returning to training, he is having a full medical assessment.
Who is in the French team?
Five players, one change from the August list.
- Arthur Rinderknech, France's No. 2, becomes the team leader. He was the last Frenchman standing in the third round of the US Open, where Daniil Medvedev stopped him.
- Benjamin Bonzi, 30, also out in the third round in New York, to Karen Khachanov.
- Quentin Halys, who pushed Alexander Zverev, the eventual champion, to five sets and 4hr 36min.
- Luca Van Assche, 22, called up to replace Fils. He knocked Cameron Norrie out in the first round of the US Open.
- Pierre-Hugues Herbert, 35 and a doubles specialist, whose role grows all the more with Fils missing: the third rubber can decide everything.
How good is Auger-Aliassime's Canada?
Canada field a top-5 player on home ground: Auger-Aliassime grew up in the Quebec City suburbs. It is also a tie the city had been waiting for — it had not hosted the Davis Cup since the 1970s. "You can already feel how excited the city is," says captain Frank Dancevic.
Behind him the squad is young and short on experience: Liam Draxl, Duncan Chan and Keegan Rice, called up to replace the injured Gabriel Diallo.
History is not on Canada's side: three meetings, three French wins, the last in Guadeloupe in 2016 (5-0). Dancevic played in that one, and lost to Gael Monfils.
How is the tie played?
Best of five rubbers, on indoor hard courts at the Centre Videotron. Two singles on Friday, then the doubles and the last two singles on Saturday. Every match is best of three sets.
Where to watch Canada v France?
On beIN Sports, the exclusive French broadcaster: Friday 18 September from 11 p.m. (5 p.m. in Quebec City) and Saturday 19 September from 8 p.m. (2 p.m.).
What does the winner get?
A direct ticket to the eight-team Final 8, from 24 to 29 November in Bologna. France, who beat Slovakia in the first round in February, are aiming for a second appearance in a row.
In the end, Canada get it: Auger-Aliassime knocks France out.
Sources
FFT — Coupe Davis, deuxième tour : l'équipe de France pour affronter le Canada
FFT — Coupe Davis : le Canada bien lancé, les Bleus dos au mur
La Presse — Le Français Arthur Fils déclare forfait pour le prochain match de la France, à Québec
Univers Tennis — Coupe Davis 2026, Canada/France : équipes, dates, format et diffusion TV
Tennis Actu — Canada-France : tout ce qu'il faut savoir avant le choc à Québec