Nadal and Verdasco back for Spain for Davis Cup final

By Iain Rogers

MADRID (Reuters) - Top 10 duo Rafael Nadal and Fernando Verdasco have returned to the Spain side for next month's Davis Cup final against Czech Republic, captain Albert Costa said on Monday.

David Ferrer and Feliciano Lopez complete the four-man team for the December 4-6 tie in Barcelona where Spain will seek a fourth title in 10 years.

World number two Nadal has not played for his country since the first-round tie against Serbia in March and missed both the quarter-final against Germany in July and September's last-four clash against Israel due to injury.

Verdasco, ranked eight, was also sidelined for the Israel tie, but has returned to clinch a place at the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals at the end of this month.

The final will take place on Spain's favored clay surface at the indoor Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona, scene of the first of Spain's three Davis Cup triumphs in 2000 when a team featuring Costa defeated Lleyton Hewitt's Australia.

They followed up with a win against the United States in Seville in 2004 and victory over Argentina in Mar del Plata last year.

"The Davis Cup is my main objective remaining for the year," Nadal, who also missed the 2008 final due to injury, said in an interview with Magazine Digital (www.magazinedigital.com) on Sunday.