US seek revenge over Spain in Davis Cup

LONDON, Apr 3 (Reuters) Payback time has come for the United States in the Davis Cup and their quest for revenge has been helped by an injury to Spain's top player, Rafael Nadal.

The world number two had been expected to lead Spain in this weekend's world group quarter-final tie in the United States but has had to rule himself out with a foot injury.

The Americans, seeking revenge after losing to Spain in the 2004 final, have injury worries of their own with Andy Roddick recovering from a hamstring injury.

The world number three, though, hopes to be fully fit by the time the tie gets underway in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on Friday.

Russian captain Shamil Tarpishchev has all his top players fit to appear for the defending champions against France in Moscow, though they have had little time to adjust after all being in Miami for last week's Sony Ericsson tournament.

Sweden will want to erase the memory of last year's 5-0 first-round loss to Argentina when the two sides meet again in Gothenburg, while Belgium would love to beat Germany for the first time in eight meetings.

Spain had home advantage and 27,000 fans to cheer them on when they last met the United States in the 2004 final in Seville, winning 3-2 to take the trophy for the second time.

This time, the Americans hope to turn the tables and the 14,453 seats of the Joel Coliseum are sold out, promising the biggest crowd at a Davis Cup match in the United States for more than 15 years.

''I think we're looking forward to it,'' US captain Patrick McEnroe told the US Tennis Association's Web site (www.usta.com). ''They made the court as much to their liking as they could, which you expect in Davis Cup. They should expect we'll do the same.'' The Americans, with James Blake joining Roddick in the singles and cup stalwarts Mike and Bob Bryan playing doubles, have chosen an indoor hard court, something that should give them an edge over the clay-loving Spaniards.

Spain will be led by Tommy Robredo, joining the trio of David Ferrer, Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco who saw off Switzerland 3-2 in the first round in February when Nadal was in the team but unable to play due to injury.

RUSSIAN HERO Russia have beaten France in the quarter-finals for the last two seasons and also have the memory of the defeat they inflicted in Paris in the 2002 final to sustain them.

Mikhail Youzhny, the hero of that final, is back in action along with Nikolay Davydenko, Marat Safin and Igor Andreev.

Tarpishchev said circumstances conspired to put the Russians under pressure.

''We feel a great responsibility right now,'' he told the Sovietsky Sport newspaper. ''First of all, we are playing at home; secondly, we have already beaten the French three times in a row.

''It's very bad that we will have to play practically immediately after the tournament in Miami,'' he added. ''We will need to solve acclimatisation problems.'' France captain Guy Forget has kept faith with the four players defeated 3-2 by Russia in 2005 in Moscow -- Richard Gasquet, Paul-Henri Mathieu, Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra.

Sebastien Grosjean is the reserve.

''It was a very difficult decision because all the guys are very close to each other and a Davis Cup tie against Russia is always a very tactical affair'', Forget said on the Web site of the French tennis federation (www.fft.fr).

''I gave the nod to Paul-Henri Mathieu because he is stronger physically and you don't beat Russian players in straight sets when you beat them'', he added.

The winners of the Russia-France tie can probably expect to meet Germany in September's semi-finals.

The Germans, led this time by Tommy Haas, have beaten Belgium seven times out of seven in Davis Cup history, including four consecutive 5-0 defeats, though the two teams have not met for 15 years.

REUTERS SSC DS1246