The Davis Cup semifinal between the reigning two-time champion Czech Republic and France will commence Friday with a singles match between Tomas Berdych and Richard Gasquet.
The best-of-five tie will be staged on red clay at Roland Garros, the home of the French Open.
The sixth-ranked Berdych will take on the world No. 21 Gasquet and that rubber will be followed by a bout between 12th-ranked French star Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and world No. 27 Czech slugger Lukas Rosol.
Saturday's doubles currently call for a French tandem of Gael Monfils and Julien Benneteau to take on a Czech duo of Radek Stepanek and Jiri Vesely, although the Czechs usually send out a formidable pairing of Berdych and Stepanek on doubles day.
Stepanek clinched back-to-back Davis Cup titles for the Czechs with big victories in deciding fifth rubbers against Spain and Serbia, respectively, in 2012 and 2013.
Sunday's reverse singles pit the former Wimbledon runner-up Berdych against the former Aussie Open runner-up Tsonga and Gasquet versus Rosol.
The Czechs are captained by Jaroslav Navratil, while the host French are piloted by former Aussie Open finalist Arnaud Clement.
The Czechs and French have split 14 previous ties.
The winner in Paris will meet the Switzerland-Italy victor in the 2014 Davis Cup final in November.
[SportsNetwork.com]
