Title defence begins for Spain

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SANTANDER, Spain -- Spain will begin its Davis Cup defence against Kazakhstan with a new-look team and without Rafael Nadal.

New captain Alex Corretja included 11th-ranked Nicolas Almagro, Marcel Granollers, former No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero and Marc Lopez in the team for the Feb. 10-12 series.

Nadal, David Ferrer, Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco all made themselves unavailable for the first-round matchup in Oviedo after leading Spain to its fifth title in December, over Argentina.

Almagro says he was "proud" to be included after initially saying he was uncertain whether he would return for the first time in nearly two years.

Two-time champion Ferrero last played in 2009, while Lopez will make his debut.