CASTELLON, Spain (AP) — Nicolas Almagro will open defending champion Spain’s Davis Cup quarterfinal with Austria against Jurgen Melzer in the first singles match.
Austria has won three of four meetings with Spain, which is again without Rafael Nadal.
Fifth-ranked David Ferrer, who was on all three of Spain’s title-winning teams over the past four years, will play Andreas Haider-Maurer on the outdoor clay in second singles Friday.
Spanish pair Marc Lopez and Marcel Granollers play Alexander Peya and Oliver Marach in Saturday’s doubles with reverse singles scheduled for Sunday.
Spain can pass Germany with a 23rd straight win on home soil — it hasn’t slipped up since 1999 — for the second longest run in the competition.
