United States seek revenge over Spain

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, tomorrow.

Russian captain Shamil Tarpish-chev 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 US 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.

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.

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

The Germans, led 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.