Davis Cup: Tsonga replaces Simon against Nadal

Cordoba: France captain Guy Forget has picked Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to replace Gilles Simon and face Spain's Rafael Nadal in the reverse singles of the Davis Cup semi-finals.

France staved off elimination with a doubles victory on Saturday and Tsonga's impressive form has led Forget to go with the 10th-ranked Frenchman, with a spot in the final on the line and the French trailing 2-1.

Tsonga has twice beaten Nadal in seven previous meetings, although the pair have never met on clay. Nadal is 13-0 on clay in Davis Cup singles play.

In the other reverse singles at Cordoba's bullring, David Ferrer is scheduled to play Richard Gasquet.