Tennis: Nadal to lead Spain's defence of Davis Cup
Posted: 17 November 2009 0324 hrs

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MADRID : World number two Rafael Nadal will lead Spain's defence of the Davis Cup in the final against the Czech Republic next month, captain Albert Costa announced on Monday.

Fernando Verdasco, ranked eight, David Ferrer and Feliciano Lopez will complete the lineup for the December 4-6 event in Barcelona.

Lopez and Verdasco should form the doubles partnership, and a decision on the reserve player will be made in the coming days, with the choice between Juan Carlos Ferrero and Tommy Robredo, Costa said.

Nadal, who lost to Novak Djokovic in the semi-final of the Paris Masters on Saturday, was out injured when Spain beat Israel in the semi-final in September.

"We've achieved the most difficult, which is to win the Davis Cup, and even the public is making us favorites," said Costa, who appealed for "humility and calm, because (the Czechs) are great players and they are going to be motivated and ready to win."

He praised in particular the Czech number one Radek Stepanek, who is a "great player who is at his best right now."

He described Tomas Berdych as "potentially very good, despite not having a high ranking."

Spain, the defending champions after beating Argentina last year, will be playing their seventh Davis Cup final.

- AFP /ls