Amélie Mauresmo has chosen Lucas Pouille over Davis Cup.
The Hall of Famer, who had been appointed to succeed Yannick Noah as French Davis Cup captain, has withdrawn from the Davis Cup captaincy to focus on coaching Lucas Pouille, the French Tennis Federation announced.
Watch: 5 Predictions for 2019
"(Amélie Mauresmo) has accepted this challenge and renounces the position of captain of the Davis Cup France team to carry out this mission," the French Tennis Federation said in a statement. "The French Tennis Federation supports and encourages this project which serves the interests of French tennis."
The 39-year-old Mauresmo, who was named first female French Davis Cup captain in history last June, was not happy with the new Davis Cup format, which will feature an 18-team, week-long World Cup-style Davis Cup final in Madrid next November.
Investment group Kosmos agreed to a 25-year, $3 billion sponsorship package with the International Tennis Federation for the new Davis Cup final.
The ITF approved the most substantial reforms in Davis Cup's 118-year history, including eliminating the traditional home-and-away ties following the opening round, after Mauresmo was named captain.
The French Tennis Federation announced it has commissioned its National Technical Director, Pierre Cherret, to hire the next captain of the Davis Cup team. The new captain will also head the French squad for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
"It was important and logical for Lucas, after his fruitful collaboration with Emmanuel Planque, to look for the person most likely to continue his development," Cherret said in a statement. "As head of the French teams, I will soon make my proposal for the new captain to the committee."
France fell short in its bid to successfully defend the Davis Cup, falling to a visiting Croatia on red clay in Lille earlier this month.
Recently-retired Julien Benneteau is set to succeed Noah as French Fed Cup captain next season.
Mauresmo, who coached Andy Murray from June 2014 to May of 2016, guided the Scot to his first career Masters 1000 title on clay as well as the Australian Open final in 2015. The two-time Grand Slam champ became a mother for the second time in April of 2017 to daughter Ayla.
The 24-year-old Pouille is currently ranked No. 32. He is the fourth highest-ranked Frenchman behind No. 26 Richard Gasquet, 29th-ranked Gael Monfils and 30th-ranked Gilles Simon.
The 2017 French Davis Cup hero has already stated he will not participate in the new Davis Cup final format.
Photo credit: Fed Cup Facebook