PREVIEW: Spain big favourite over Israel despite Nadal absence

Sep 16, 2009, 7:01 GMT

   Murcia, Spain - Spain take heavy favourite's odds into a weekend Davis Cup semi-final clash with tennis minnow Israel even though the mighty Iberians miss Rafael Nadal due to injury.

   The holders are hoping to reach a second consecutive final in the worldwide team competition as they take a 3-0 record against Israel into the September 18-20 tie.

   The last time the nations met was in 1996, when Israel took its only rubber to date in a 4-1 defeat in Ramat Hasharon, Israel. The nation has already made history by reaching a first-ever semi-final through wins over powerhouses Sweden and Russia in 2009.

   The clay court constructed inside the Polaris golf club at the southern resort of Murcia is expected to be filled as the hosts aim for a 17th victory from 19 home ties in a bid to reach a seventh final.

   Nadal's abdominal muscle tear which hampered his US Open campaign will be under treatment elsewhere while Tommy Robredo, David Ferrer and Feliciano Lopez in doubles face the Middle East nation. Veteran Juan Carlos Ferrero, who returned to the lineup in July after a three-year absence, has replaced Nadal.

   Israel, with Dudi Sela, Harel Levy and the doubles pair of Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram, will be in uncharted territory against the Spanish armada.

   'To play a Davis Cup semi-final is the greatest moment of my career, it is something special,' said the 29th-ranked Sela. 'Everyone has to give 100 percent.

   'We must try to surprise the Spanish team. Clay is not my favourite surface.'

   In seaside another resort, Porec south of Trieste, Croatia will play the visiting Czech Republic, with US Open quarter-finalist Marin Cilic and big-serving Ivo Karlovic leading the team.

   'The home court advantage is huge for us,' said Cilic. 'We've had good ties at home. This one will be a tough one as the Czechs have a good team. We are lacking (Mario) Ancic (due to illness) but Ivo and I were a good team against the US (a 4-1 quarter-final upset in July).'

   The nations are meeting for the first time in the competition.

'We've chosen a clay court to weaken their players and create an advantage for us,' said Croatian skipper Goran Prpic.

   'We will try to seize the opportunity, we are not afraid of responsibility. All four individual matches are open and that is where we are looking for our chance.'

   In the World Group playoffs, Roger Federer is still listed on the Swiss side which visited the alpine nation's America's cup champion yacht Alinghi during a day off from training in the Italian port city of Genoa.

   Stan Wawrinka, Marco Chiudunelli, Michael Lammer and Stephane Bohli all visited Alinghi's temporary training site on the day when Federer lost the delayed US Open men's final in New York to Juan Del Potro.

   Andy Murray has told British Davis officials that he will pull up fit after a US Open wrist injury and play a desperation European zonal tie against Poland in Liverpool. Serbia play Uzbekistan without Novak Djokovic, who is resting after his US Open semi-final.