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Page last updated at 17:37 GMT, Monday, 16 November 2009

Nadal returns to boost Spain team

Rafael Nadal
World number two Nadal missed the 2008 final with injury

World number two Rafael Nadal has been included in Spain's squad for the Davis Cup final against the Czech Republic.

The 23-year-old has not played for the defending champions since the first-round win over Serbia in March, and missed last year's final with injury.

World number eight Fernando Verdasco, David Ferrer and Feliciano Lopez make up the rest of the squad for the final, which begins in Spain on 4 December.

Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek will lead the Czech challenge.

Jan Hajek and Lukas Dlouhy have also been named by captain Jaroslav Navratil in an unchanged squad from the line-up that stunned Croatia in the semi-finals.

606: DEBATE

The Czechs, who have not won the trophy since 1980 when Ivan Lendl led them to victory, have also beaten France and Argentina on their way to the final.

Spain, who have 11 players in the world's top 75, are attempting to win their fourth Davis Cup title in 10 years.

The final will take place on indoor clay at the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona, scene of the first of Spain's three Davis Cup triumphs in 2000.

Nadal was sidelined for two months with knee tendonitis earlier this year, and has not won a title since his return in August.

Verdasco, who has qualified for the end-of-season World Tour Finals in London for the first time, missed Spain's semi-final win over Israel with an injury.



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see also
Spain and Czechs through to final
20 Sep 09 |  Tennis
Croatia into Davis Cup semi-final
12 Jul 09 |  Tennis
Israel seal Davis Cup semi place
12 Jul 09 |  Tennis
Nadal left out of Davis Cup match
30 Jun 09 |  Tennis


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