Canadian captain Martin Laurendeau is sticking with his biggest weapon.
Laurendeau’s original lineup for today’s Davis Cup doubles featured Daniel Nestor along side Vancouver’s Vasek Pospisil, the same combination that won in Israel.
But the captain has changed course and will pair Nestor with Milos Raonic at 2 p.m. at UBC’s Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre.
Pospisil lost in straight sets to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Friday’s opening rubber of this Davis Cup World Group first-round tie. Raonic then rolled over Julien Benneteau in straights to even this best-of-five series at 1-1.
Pospisil was getting some treatment on his right shoulder in Friday’s match but it doesn’t appear to have played into Laurendeau’s decision.
Raonic, the world No. 29, is 2-0 in Davis Cup doubles. He partnered with Pospisil to win in Mexico last March and, in 2010, Raonic and Nestor won in Colombia.
French captain Guy Forget, meanwhile, is sticking with his plan: Benneteau will play with Michael Llodra.
Captains have up to an hour before the match to switch lineups on Saturday and Sunday.
Sunday’s reverse singles will feature Raonic and Tsonga in the first match, followed, if needed, by Pospisil and Benneteau.
That second matchup could also change. And it seems likely to. Gael Monfils says his sore right knee continues to improve and Forget said the world No. 13 is ready for Sunday if needed against Pospisil.
This weekend marks Canada’s first return to the elite 16-team World Group since 2004.
