David Ferrer will begin the weekend for Spain on Friday as he kick starts Davis Cup semifinal against the U.S. as he faces Sam Querrey after the draw made on Thursday.
Spain’s Nicolas Almagro will step onto the clay for the second rubber at the Parque Hermanos Castro in Gijon, taking on John Isner as defending champion Spain bids for a sixth trophy in the worldwide team competition since 2000.
The hosts are missing Rafael Nadal, who has not competed since late June due to a knee injury which could keep him out for much of the remainder of the ATP season.
In the Saturday doubles rubber, the world number one Bryan brothers will face Spaniards Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez.
Sunday’s reverse singles -- subject to late changes, will feature world number five Ferrer, who lost in the semifinals of the U.S. Open, against Isner while Almagro takes on Querrey.
The second semifinal is being played in Buenos Aires between depleted Argentina and the Czech Republic.
The hosts, losing finalists to Spain last year, are without David Nalbandian as the 30-year-old recovers from an abdominal muscle team which forced him to miss the U.S. Open.
U.S. Open quarter-finalist Juan Del Potro, nursing a problem right wrist, decided to play through the pain and is expected to be listed when the draw is made later in the South American capital for the clay date.
Del Potro said the he had decided to play and will count on the massive support of home fans to somehow carry him through.
“I’ll be supported by the people, I“ll make the effort and give it my best,” said the world number eight, who has had his wrist worry since before the U.S. Open.
Del Potro had been told by doctors to rest his wrist for a fortnight, but he is ignoring their advice to try and win the tie.
Also onside for Argentina: 11-ranked Juan Monaco, number 45 Carlos Berlocq and Eduardo Schwank in doubles.
New York semifinalist Tomas Berdych leads the Czechs along with Radek Stepanek, a U.S. Open doubles finalist.
Argentina are hoping to reach a fifth Davis final but have never lifted the trophy.
Keywords: David Ferrer, Davis Cup semifinal, Sam Querrey
