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MADRID: Rafael Nadal has pulled out of Spain's Davis Cup semi-final against Israel because of lingering fears over the abdominal injury which has affected his US Open campaign.
Nadal will be replaced by veteran Juan Carlos Ferrero in the defending champions' squad for the semi-final which takes place from September 18-20, the Spanish tennis federation announced.
The decision was taken in New York by Spain captain Albert Costa after world number three Nadal indicated that he would prefer not to play because of the stomach muscle problems he has endured at the final Grand Slam event of 2009.
Ferrero will join a squad made up of David Ferrer, Tommy Robredo and Feliciano Lopez for the tie to be played in Murcia, south-east Spain.
The Spanish team are already without their number two player Fernando Verdasco.
Nadal was on Friday due to resume his US Open quarter-final clash against Chile's Fernando Gonzalez which had been halted by rain the night before with the Spaniard leading 7-6 (7/4), 6-6 (3/2).
However, torrential downpours at Flushing Meadows again on Friday caused play to be abandoned with Nadal having to return on Saturday to complete his last eight match.
The winners of the Spain-Israel Davis Cup tie will face either Croatia or the Czech Republic in the final in December.
- AFP/yb
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