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  • Querrey up against the odds in Davis Cup debut

    9/19/08 8:34 AM | Johan Lindahl
    - Sam Querrey will hope to have digested a recent US Open fourth round loss to Rafael Nadal as the pair open Davis Cup semi-final play in Madrid. The young American hope will be up against it as he faces off against the world No. 1 in the high-pressure semi-final.

    Nadal has won both previous meetings with Querrey, the last in four sets in New York. "I hope to bring some of the things that helped me in that match to this one," said Querrey. "I rather be playing first and get out there and not spend three hours in the locker room waiting around."

    Querrey is replacing gun-shy James Blake, whose poor results forced him to rule himself out of selection for the weekend.

    "I'll have to play well," said Nadal, lynchpin of his team which last won the tournament title in 2004 with a victory over the US. "The Davis Cup is special. Playing for a team is great rather than just for yourself."

    The US leads Spain overall 5-3 but the Americans have only one away victory, back in the distant past of 1972. The Americans are playing with a changed squad for the first time in 11 ties due to the absence of Blake and injured Bob Bryan.

    Spain last lost a home tie nine years ago when Gustavo Kuerten led Brazil to a 3-2 victory in Lerida. That was also Spain's last defeat on clay.

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