Ferrer To Skip Davis Cup Tie With Canada

Written by: Staff on 31st December 2012

Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi

Ferrer To Skip Davis Cup Tie With Canada

epa03519653 Spain's David Ferrer returns the ball to Serbia's Janko Tipsarevic during their match for third place of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 29 December 2012. Ferrer won the match (7-6,6-2). EPA/ALI HAIDER |

Spain will limp into Davis Cup in the first round definitely without the presence of David Ferrer and likely also missing Rafael Nadal.

The fighting Ferrer, who ended the season on fifth in the world and poised to rise as Nadal’s injury absence stretches into February, informed Spanish Davis officials that he would not be available for the February 1-3 in Vancouver against Canada.

Nadal has not played since June 28 due to a knee injiury and is now compromised by a stomach virus. His intended return is now late February on clay in Acapulco.

With Spain’s two best out of action, the Canadians with No. 13 Milos Raonic could well be in the box seat for the tie, which falls the week after the end of the Australian Open in on the other side of the Pacific.

Ferrer’s agent Albert Molina gave the word that his 30-year-old client would need to rest after playing a full schedule which began last week at the Abu Dhabi exhibition, continued through the ATP events in Doha and Auckland followed by the Australian Open.

“It’s purely a schedule thing. He’s playing in Doha and Auckland and then the Australian Open, so he can’t go all the way to Canada after that”, Molina told the marca.com website. “He will only miss the match against Canada. It’s worth remembering that David has only had five days of holiday this year, so he’s shattered. He needs to start taking care of himself.”

Spain has posted the best record in Davis Cup over the past decade, winning the worldwide competition on five occasions.

©Daily tennis news wire

Topics: Atp, auckland open, Australian Open, Canadian tennis news, David Ferrer, Davis Cup, doha open, Rafael Nadal, Sports, Tennis