Downbeat Russia launch Davis Cup defence in Chile

LONDON, Feb 7 (Reuters) Russia, far from home and missing top players, are less than optimistic about their chances of successfully defending the Davis Cup in 2007.

The champions, who beat Argentina to lift the cup two months ago, arrived in Chile for this weekend's first round clash without Nikolay Davydenko and Mikhail Youzhny, who have opted to skip the tie to concentrate on their singles rankings.

World number 20 Dmitry Tursunov is also injured, practising this week on La Serena's clay courts with heavy strapping on his left wrist.

''It doesn't look too good for us,'' team captain Shamil Tarpishchev told Russian newspapers.

Russia are looking for inspiration from former world number one Marat Safin.

''Chile are the favourites because they're playing at home.

Also, (Fernando) Gonzalez is coming here after playing a great Australian Open and it will be very difficult to beat him,'' Safin said. ''But it's not impossible.'' World number five Gonzalez, who had a tremendous Australian Open, beating Lleyton Hewitt, Rafael Nadal and Tommy Haas before falling in the final to Roger Federer, lines up alongside Nicolas Massu, ranked 42nd.

Chile and Russia have met three times in the Davis Cup all in Moscow and with Russia winning 4-1 each time. The Chileans have won their last nine Davis Cup ties on home soil.

SERIOUS CHALLENGE The United States, who have won the cup 31 times though not since 1995, have made it clear they are very serious this year.

World number four Andy Roddick, Roger Federer's semi-final victim in Australia, leads the team against the Czech Republic in Ostrava alongside sixth-ranked James Blake and the formidable doubles pairing of Australian Open champions Bob and Mike Bryan.

They will find their toughest opponent in Czech number one Tomas Berdych, ranked 12th, who beat Roddick in their single encounter in Madrid last year. Blake has beaten Berdych twice, in 2005 and 2006.

Belgium face an uphill struggle when they host Australia following a three-year absence from the World Group.

The Belgians hope it will be third time lucky after losing 5-0 in Perth in 1991 and 4-0 in Scarborough, England in 1922.

Australia, the second-most successful country in Davis Cup history with 28 titles, reached the semi-finals last year losing 4-1 to Argentina. Hewitt will lead their challenge in Liege.

Argentina swap summer for a winter visit to Linz in Austria and an attempt to dispel the disappointment of the 3-2 defeat in December's final.

They arrive without top player David Nalbandian, relying instead on Jose Acasuso and Guillermo Canas to try to see off Jurgen Melzer and Stefan Koubek.

EASY VICTORY France, spearheaded by 20-year-old Richard Gasquet, and Romania, led by Andrei Pavel, last met in the first round in 2003, the French clinching an easy 4-1 victory.

''It's true that, on the paper, we are the obvious favourites. But we must be wary...It's always tricky to play a tie you can't afford to lose,'' said French captain Guy Forget.

Benjamin Becker stands poised to make his Davis Cup debut when Germany take on 2005 champions Croatia in Krefeld.

''I was downright shocked to get the call,'' the 25-year-old Becker, who is no relation to Boris, said after being nominated by coach Patrick Kuehnen.

Becker will take the number two singles slot behind Haas, fresh from a run to the semi-finals at the Australian Open.

Twice champions Spain will be favourites to overcome a Swiss side playing without world number one Federer.

While Federer decided to opt out of the competition's first round, world number two Nadal is on board for Spain, whose young team also includes David Ferrer, Fernando Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez.

Ferrer, 24, is ranked 15th in the world while Verdasco, 23, is 33rd -- just one place below Switzerland's top participating player, Stanislas Wawrinka.

''I think it's sad for world tennis that Federer is not here because if he was playing this tie would probably be the best tie of the year, maybe better than the final,'' Spain captain Emilio Sanchez said yesterday.

Belarus and seven-times champions Sweden meet in Minsk with the big-hitting 1.96 metre Max Mirnyi leading an underdog team against the experience and finesse of 31-year-old Thomas Johansson and 34-year-old Jonas Bjorkman as well as Robin Soderling, 22.

The ties open with two singles matches on Friday, the doubles on Saturday and reverse singles on Sunday.

REUTERS DH HS2114