Harrison will open for U.S. against Tsonga

Roquebrune, France – The 2012 Davis Cup quarterfinal between host France and the United States will commence Friday with a singles rubber between young American Ryan Harrison and world No. 6 French star Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

The best-of-five tie will be staged on red clay at the famed Monte Carlo Country Club.

The Davis Cup rookie Harrison joined the U.S. squad this week when ninth- seeded Mardy Fish pulled out of the prestigious competition, citing extreme fatigue. World No. 14 Gael Monfils also pulled out for France this week because of an injury.

The 19-year-old Harrison made his Davis Cup debut in Switzerland in February, winning a dead rubber in the Americans' stunning 5-0 whitewash of a Roger Federer-led Swiss contingent in Fribourg.

Harrison-Tsonga will be followed on Friday by a bout between 11th-ranked John Isner and Gilles Simon. Sunday's reverse singles call for the 6-foot-9 Isner to battle the former Australian Open runner-up Tsonga and Harrison to take on the world No. 13 Simon.

Saturday's doubles in Roquebrune will pit the world No. 1 twin Bryan bothers, Bob and Mike, against a French duo of Julien Benneteau and Michael Llodra.

Team USA is captained by former No. 1 star Jim Courier, while long-time mentor Guy Forget will guide the hosts.

The 32-time champion U.S. is 8-7 all-time versus the nine-time winner France, as the two storied Davis Cup nations first met way back in 1905. The Americans last won the title in 2007, while the French last hoisted the chalice in 2001.

In their last meeting, the U.S. topped France 4-1 in a 2008 quarterfinal.

The United States-France winner will advance to the semifinals to face either reigning champion Spain or Austria.