Paul-Henri Mathieu is wary of Brazil: "In Davis Cup, the ranking is anecdotal".
The draw for the first round of the 2025 Davis Cup has been made.
France, who missed out on the Final 8 in Malaga in recent weeks, will kick off by hosting Brazil after the Australian Open.
Les Bleus captain Paul-Henri Mathieu is delighted to be playing at home, but is wary of his future opponent: "I'm very happy to be playing at home.
For the team, but also for our supporters. Last year, it was more restrictive to have to go and play in Taiwan. This way, it's better for everyone.
Brazil is very talented. The best example is Joao Fonseca. He's 145th in the world, but he's only 18 and he's playing very well. He's a player for the future, and he's climbed the rankings very quickly.
It's impossible to know who will play, but their No. 1 player, Thiago Seyboth Wild (74th), is also talented, even if he prefers slower courts.
Thiago Monteiro (109th) has more experience than them and has always enjoyed playing for his team. In any case, in the Davis Cup, ranking is anecdotal.
The history of the event has shown this time and again. We'll be concentrating above all on our strengths and our players. But the Brazilians will have to be taken very seriously," he explained to L'Équipe.
As a laboratory for tomorrow’s tennis, does the Next Gen Masters have a future?
Tennis: the little-known truths about the offseason, between rest, stress and physical survival
What if tennis lost its soul? The case of robotized officiating, between tradition and a dehumanized modernity
Features - Saudi Arabia, injuries, war, and business: the fascinating underbelly of tennis revealed by TennisTemple