Corretja’s Spain open title defence

Alex Corretja’s new-look Spain open their Davis Cup title defence against minnows Kazakhstan in Oviedo today.

Just two months after lifting the trophy for the fifth time against Argentina in Seville, Corretja takes over from Albert Costa as the hosts bid to defend their interests without world number two Rafael Nadal, David Ferrer and Feliciano Lopez.

The Spaniards are however overwhelming favourites in their first meeting with Kazakhstan, a team made up of Russian-born players which made its debut in the World Group last year.

Former French Open winner Juan Carlos Ferrero returns for Spain after a two-year absence from the men’s team tournament, and he will be joined by Nicolas Almagro, Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez.

Last year Russia failed to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 2004 and 79th-ranked Igor Kunitzyn opens their campaign against Austrian number one Jurgen Melzer, ranked 40.

In the second rubber, Alex Bogomolov Jr., playing for Russia for the first time in Davis Cup, will meet Andreas Haider-Maurer.

Russian captain Shamil Tarpischev has saved his most experienced Davis Cup players, Nikolay Davydenko and Mikhail Youzhny, for tomorrow’s doubles rubber, against Oliver Marach and Alexander Peya.

World Group: Spain vs Kazakhstan; Austria vs Russia; Canada vs France; Switzerland vs US; Czech Rep. vs Italy; Serbia vs Sweden; Japan vs Croatia; Germany vs Argentina.