wimbledon 2009World No.2 Rafael Nadal has joined Wimbledon finalist Andy Roddick on the sidelines for the start of the Davis Cup.
With Nadal failing to recover in time for the latest round of matches, Spain have instead named former world No.1 Juan Carlos Ferrero, along with Fernando Verdasco, Tommy Robredo and Feliciano Lopez in their team.
Despite losing Nadal, as well as David Ferrer, Spain believe they still have a strong enough squad to defeat Germany, especially on their favoured clay surface.
Spain captain Carlos Costa said: "We don't fear the Germans but we respect them a great deal."
Roddick is also out of the quarter-finals after injuring his hip in gruelling Wimbledon final 2009 with Roger Federer, but US captain Patrick McEnroe thinks that because of the nature of the epic clash at SW19 he wouldn't have been part of the team.
He has been replaced by Mardy Fish, who will hope to guide America to victory over Croatia after losing to them in the first round in 2003 and 2005.
McEnroe told the US Tennis Association website: "Andy had a great run at Wimbledon. Understandably, his body is not up for the rigours of the Davis Cup in such a short turnaround."
There have been many critics at the timing of the last-eight clashes which follow a gruelling clay and grass court seasons, highlighting the difficulties some players face with such a packed calendar.
The Czech Republic will be hoping that they can battle through to reach their first Davis Cup semi-finals since 1996 where they were beaten by Argentina.
They may find themselves without 30-year-old Radek Stepanek. Currently 29th in the world Stepanek has been out with a knee injury and it is not clear yet whether he will feature.
The Czechs opponents Argentina, who beat them 5-0 in their last encounter back in 2005, will be headed by world number five Juan Martin Del Potro. Del Potro was called in to replace David Nalbandian after he suffered an injury.
In what should be a momentous occasion, the quarter-finals get underway on Friday, officials are expecting the largest ever attendance for a Davis Cup match in the country which should be around 11,000.
The Russians are pinning their hopes on world number 24 Igor Andreev who they hope can bring them singles glory, while their opponents, Israel will be led by the man who recently reached the last 16 at Wimbledon, world number 33 Dudi Sela.
With Nadal failing to recover in time for the latest round of matches, Spain have instead named former world No.1 Juan Carlos Ferrero, along with Fernando Verdasco, Tommy Robredo and Feliciano Lopez in their team.
Despite losing Nadal, as well as David Ferrer, Spain believe they still have a strong enough squad to defeat Germany, especially on their favoured clay surface.
Spain captain Carlos Costa said: "We don't fear the Germans but we respect them a great deal."
Roddick is also out of the quarter-finals after injuring his hip in gruelling Wimbledon final 2009 with Roger Federer, but US captain Patrick McEnroe thinks that because of the nature of the epic clash at SW19 he wouldn't have been part of the team.
He has been replaced by Mardy Fish, who will hope to guide America to victory over Croatia after losing to them in the first round in 2003 and 2005.
McEnroe told the US Tennis Association website: "Andy had a great run at Wimbledon. Understandably, his body is not up for the rigours of the Davis Cup in such a short turnaround."
There have been many critics at the timing of the last-eight clashes which follow a gruelling clay and grass court seasons, highlighting the difficulties some players face with such a packed calendar.
The Czech Republic will be hoping that they can battle through to reach their first Davis Cup semi-finals since 1996 where they were beaten by Argentina.
They may find themselves without 30-year-old Radek Stepanek. Currently 29th in the world Stepanek has been out with a knee injury and it is not clear yet whether he will feature.
The Czechs opponents Argentina, who beat them 5-0 in their last encounter back in 2005, will be headed by world number five Juan Martin Del Potro. Del Potro was called in to replace David Nalbandian after he suffered an injury.
In what should be a momentous occasion, the quarter-finals get underway on Friday, officials are expecting the largest ever attendance for a Davis Cup match in the country which should be around 11,000.
The Russians are pinning their hopes on world number 24 Igor Andreev who they hope can bring them singles glory, while their opponents, Israel will be led by the man who recently reached the last 16 at Wimbledon, world number 33 Dudi Sela.
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