Gael Monfils pulls out of France's Davis Cup match against USA

Gael Monfils has pulled out of France's Davis Cup quarter-final clash against the United States, the French tennis federation (FFT) said on Monday.

The 25-year-old, who had been picked alongside Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Michael Llodra and Julien Benneteau, for the tie on the Monte Carlo clay courts starting Friday, has a side strain.

"Team captain Guy Forget will announce soon the name of the player who will replace him (Monfils) in the France team," the FFT said in a statement.

Monfils, ranked 14th in the world, pulled up during training on Sunday. Ultrasound and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans revealed that he had torn his left internal oblique muscle, the federation added.

The player has been told to rest for two weeks.

The injury will force Forget to change his plans for the tie and could see the recall of Richard Gasquet or Gilles Simon.