THE CANADIAN PRESS

VANCOUVER -- Canadian Davis Cup captain Martin Laurendeau nominated Milos Raonic to partner with veteran Daniel Nestor in Saturday's key doubles match against France.

Raonic, of Thornhill, Ont., replaced Vasek Pospisil against the French duo of Michael Llodra and Julien Benneteau.

Raonic has a lower world doubles ranking than Pospisil but served much better than his countryman in Friday's opening singles which left the best-of-five tie knotted 1-1.

Canada, playing in the 16-country World Group for the first time in eight years, gained the split when Raonic, ranked 29th in the world, defeated Benneteau 6-2, 6-4, 7-5.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, No. 6 in the world, opened with a routine 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 win over Pospisil, who is 115th in singles play.

Pospisil is ranked No. 148 in doubles while Raonic's doubles ranking is No. 375.

Pospisil, of Vernon, B.C., paired with Toronto's Nestor in earlier Davis Cup doubles victories over Ecuador and Israel.