Rafael Nadal has confirmed he will not play for Spain in its upcoming Davis Cup clash with Switzerland. Nadal, who suffered a knee injury at the Australian Open, hopes to make his return at Indian Wells.
Anticipcated as a blockbuster clash when the draw was made last year, the tie now looks set to be a fizzle.
Roger Federer, following his usual practice of not playing the first round of Davis Cup, had earlier announced he would miss the tie.
Spain and Switzerland are also unsure about the participation of their second highest-ranked players, with Stanislas Wawrinka having just become a father and Fernando Verdasco struggling with a sciatic nerve injury.