A few Brits have played in the lower divisions of this competition, I think (even there,  there's good money available, I believe) but Wardy is actually playing in the première division this year, as is Anne Keothavong in the women's competition which starts on Sunday.

While the men's première division may be a bit weaker than usual until after the top French players return from the DC Final, it is nevertheless one of the strongest non-ATP/ITF competitions around.

James is playing for Marignane, a team from Marseille (Marignane is where Marseille airport is) along with local boys Arnaud Clément, David Guez & Sebastian de Chaunac. He was in their squad last year too but didn't play as far as I can tell. This year it looks like he is one of their first choice players.

On Wednesday, they played Tennis Club de Paris in Paris, with Wardy winning his singles against Sidorenko 6-3 7-6(2) but losing his doubles with Guez 2 & 3 to Mahut and Fed's DC doubles partner Allegro. Marignane went down 2-4, with Gicquel's win against Clément probably the deciding factor. That was a pity, because they were lucky to get Paris before their big guns (Tsonga and Wawrinka) became available!

http://www.fft.fr/cms/GetDoc.asp?Type=5&ID=15256

Marignane had lost their first tie 2-4 the previous Saturday as well without Wardy, Clément being the main culprit again as he went down to Schukin.

http://www.fft.fr/cms/GetDoc.asp?Type=5&ID=15209

That leaves them 6th of out 6 in Poule A (one of two groups) http://www.fft.fr/cms/GetDoc.asp?Type=5&ID=15253 going into tomorrow's tie at home to Boulogne-Billancourt (another Parisian team), who had Mannarino, Huta Galung, Dimitrov and Schoorel playing in their last match.

Squad lists - Poule A: http://www.fft.fr/cms/GetDoc.asp?Type=5&ID=14975

Though they were knocked out in the semis last year, probably the best team in the competition is the Lagardère Paris Racing team, headed by Gasquet, PHM, Roger-Vasselin & Santoro, but (fortunately?) they are in the other group, Poule B: http://www.fft.fr/cms/GetDoc.asp?Type=5&ID=14976


-- Edited by steven on Friday 19th of November 2010 05:40:49 PM