Tennis: Nadal won't play for Spain in Davis Cup quarterfinals

AP , Tuesday 28 Mar 2017

Rafael Nadal of Spain (AFP)
Rafael Nadal of Spain (AFP)

Rafael Nadal will not play in the Davis Cup quarterfinals when Spain faces Serbia next week.

The 14-time Grand Slam champion was not in the team announced by Spain captain Conchita Martinez on Tuesday. No reason was given.

Also absent was Spain's second-ranked player, Roberto Bautista Agut.

Spain will be led by world No. 19 Pablo Carreno Busta, who will be joined by Albert Ramos-Vinolas, Marcel Granollers, and double specialist Marc Lopez.

Spain will play the hard-court tie against Serbia from April 7-9 in Belgrade. The five-time champion is trying to make the semifinals for the first time since 2012.

Nadal missed the Davis Cup tie against Croatia last month because of fatigue following his five-set loss to Roger Federer in the Australian Open final. Doctors recommended time off for Nadal because he had played a significant number of matches following a four-month layoff due to a wrist injury.

The seventh-ranked Nadal is in the Miami Open fourth round this week.

Bautista Agut, also through to the Miami fourth round, withdrew from Indian Wells a few weeks ago because of an abdominal muscle injury.

(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)

 
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