Nadal to lead Spain against US in Davis Cup

[September 09, 2008]  MADRID, Spain (AP) -- Top-ranked Rafael Nadal will lead Spain when it hosts the defending champion United States in the Davis Cup semifinals.

The Wimbledon and French Open champion was chosen Tuesday by Spain captain Emilio Sanchez Vicario, who also picked David Ferrer, Fernando Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez for the best-of-five series against the Americans from Sept. 19-21 on clay at Madrid's Las Ventas bullring.

United States captain Patrick McEnroe had already chosen Andy Roddick, James Blake and Mike and Bob Bryan.

"They're a very compact team," Sanchez Vicario said. "All of the matches will be very complicated."

Nicolas Almagro was listed as a reserve for Spain, while 16th-ranked Tommy Robredo was left off the team.

"Almagro is the player -- after Nadal -- who had obtained the best (clay) results among our tennis players up to Roland Garros," Sanchez Vicario said. "Robredo has also done well, but perhaps should have done something better to be in this group."

Nadal lost to Andy Murray in the semifinals of the U.S. Open on Sunday.

"He lost a match but the tiredness and stress are within the usual limits," said Sanchez Vicario, who added that Nadal may not be at the start of training Saturday. "He is very enthusiastic about this tie."

[Associated Press; By PAUL LOGOTHETIS]

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