24 Feb 2010

Ferrero into Spainish David Cup team

6:04 am on 24 February 2010

The former world men's tennis number one Juan Carlos Ferrero has been recalled to help Spain begin the defence of their Davis Cup title against Switzerland next month.

Ferrero joins David Ferrer, Tommy Robredo and Marcel Granollers in the four-man team for the March 5th first-round tie on clay at the bull ring in Logrono.

Ferrer is the only survivor from the side who beat Czech Republic in last year's final in Barcelona, with world number three Rafael Nadal, number 10 Fernando Verdasco and number 34 Feliciano Lopez all unavailable.

Ferrero, the 2003 French Open champion, comes in to the tie afer winning back-to-back titles at the Brasil and Buenos Aires Opens which have lifted him to 16th in the world rankings.

The Spanish have dominated the Davis Cup over the past decade, also winning in 2000, 2004 and 2008, and are undefeated in 18 home ties stretching back to April 1999 when they lost 3-2 to Brazil in Lerida.

World number one Roger Federer has said he is unavailable as he is reluctant to play on clay immediately before the hardcourt events in Indian Wells and Miami.