Top-ranked Rafael Nadal was picked yesterday to lead Spain against Serbia in the first round of the Davis Cup.

Nadal pulled out of next week's Dubai Tennis Championships to recuperate from a slight strain to his right leg so that he could be ready for the best-of-five Davis Cup series from 6-8 March.

Spain captain Alberto Costa also chose David Ferrer, Feliciano Lopez and Tommy Robredo. Lopez and Robredo are expected to play doubles.

Nadal's injury is just below the right knee. Tendinitis in that same knee forced the Australian Open champion to miss out on the Davis Cup final in November, when Spain beat Argentina for its third title in eight years.

Fernando Verdasco, who was the star of the final and pushed Nadal to five sets in the Australian Open semi-finals, will miss the match due to an ankle injury.