France to host Davis Cup tie vs. Canada in Guadeloupe

PARIS (AP) France will play its Davis Cup first-round tie against Canada in the overseas department of Guadeloupe in March, the French Tennis Federation said on Friday.

New captain Yannick Noah - the last Frenchman to win a Grand Slam when he won the French Open in 1983 - will lead the team for the first time in the town of Baie-Mahault from March 4-6.

The world group tie will be held on clay in the 8,000-seat Velodrome Amedee Detraux, which is the biggest stadium in Guadeloupe.

It will be the first time France plays a Davis Cup tie in an overseas department.

FFT president Jean Gachassin said ''it's a historic moment,'' and ''I would like to thank Yannick Noah and the players who were behind this magnificent initiative.''