Melzer to lead Austria against France

Jurgen Melzer will lead Austria against France in next week's first-round World Group tie of the Davis Cup.

The 10th-ranked Melzer is joined by Martin Fischer, Stefan Koubek and Julian Knowle in the squad announced by captain Gilbert Schaller on Tuesday.

Melzer and Fischer are expected to play singles, while Melzer will likely team up with Knowle in doubles.

Koubek retired from the team last year but returns to replace Andreas Haider-Maurer, who is recovering from pneumonia.

Austria plays last year's finalist France in the best-of-five tie on indoor clay in a hangar at Vienna's main airport from March 4-6.