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Fernando Gonzalez took three days to travel back from Mexico for Chile’s delayed Davis Cup first-round tie but is hoping a win can lift his compatriots’ spirits after last weekend’s deadly earthquake.

Because of the transport chaos caused by the disaster, the Chileans’ tie against Israel in Coquimbo will start on Saturday instead of today, when the seven other first-round matches begin.

World No. 10 Gonzalez lost to Spain’s David Ferrer in the semifinals of the Acapulco event on Feb. 26 and arrived in Santiago on Tuesday after an odyssey that included four flights and rides in a taxi and a van.

“The Davis Cup issue is a difficult one,” Gonzalez said on his Web site, adding he had not slept properly for three nights. “On the one hand, it’s uncomfortable to have to concentrate on playing when you know there are people suffering.

“But I believe that if we manage to beat Israel, we will be bringing a little bit of happiness to all the people who have suffered so much in recent days.”

Spain begins the defense of its title against a Roger Federer-less Switzerland on clay in Logrono without world No. 3 Rafael Nadal, who is recovering from the knee injury that forced him out of the Australian Open.

The Spaniards, bidding for a third successive Cup, are also missing world No. 12 Fernando Verdasco. In-form Juan Carlos Ferrero, a former No. 1, withdrew because of knee and wrist problems.

“The strength of this team is that there are a lot of top quality players who are committed,” Spain captain Albert Costa said on Wednesday.

“In one sense that complicates my job a great deal when I am selecting the team, but it’s also a guarantee,” he added. “You win the Davis Cup as a team, and I am very satisfied that among everyone we always form a unit.”

The performance of Serbia’s Novak Djokovic, the world No. 2, will be key to its chances of beating the United States in Belgrade in the first meeting between the two countries.

The US is without Andy Roddick but has one of the world’s best doubles pairs in twins Bob and Mike Bryan. Captain Patrick McEnroe selected John Isner and Sam Querrey in the singles slots.

“The Americans have the most success in Davis Cup, and even though they have come here without their strongest players it is still going to be a very strong team,” Djokovic told a news conference on Wednesday.

“With the support of the audience, we can get to the quarterfinals which would be a great success for our national team.” 


Reuters