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Russia looks to Safin

Paris: He may be Russia's fourth ranked player but captain Shamil Tarpischev is counting on Marat Safin to keep the champion's winning streak on course in its Davis Cup quarterfinal clash against France in Moscow starting on Friday.

Plagued by injuries and poor form since winning his last title at the 2005 Australian Open, Safin plummeted to as low as 104th in the world rankings prior to last year's US Open but has since risen to 27th.

But Tarpischev insists that in terms of grit and determination no one can match the former world number one.

Favourite

Russia, which won its second Davis Cup title in 2006 against Argentina, is the overwhelming favourite as it faces off against France for a third year in a row at the quarterfinal stage.

At stake is a semifinal berth against either Germany or Belgium in September.

"Safin will play because he has the most motivation," said Tarpischev.

"We'll need to stay focused. They (France) have nothing to lose, while we are defending our title. And this fact puts us under tough pressure."

Davydenko to play

The Russian line-up for the indoor clay tie at the Luzhniki Arena will be bolstered by the return of World No. 4 Nikolay Davydenko and 17th-ranked Mikhail Youzhny.

Davydenko and Youzhny both missed the holders' victory over Chile in February in which Safin and 235th-ranked Igor Andreev played key roles.

Safin's best result this year has been reaching the Las Vegas semifinals. And he admitted that he was looking forward to the camaraderie of the Davis Cup in which he has a 28-18 winning record.

"It's the only competition where I can still win matches," joked Safin, who nevertheless warned against complacency.

"If we already think of the semifinal we have 99 per cent chance of losing."

Russia has a 4-2 record against the French — winning its past three ties including 2002 when it claimed its first Davis Cup title at the expense of the hosts in Paris.

France captain Guy Forget will be counting on world number 15 Richard Gasquet for the singles with the second tie to be decided in a lineup which includes Paul-Henri Mathieu, Michael Llodra and Arnaud Clement.

"On paper Russia are the favourites. We've lost to them twice in the past two years. Everything is in their favour," admitted Forget.

"But I'm not going over there beaten. There's always a chance to seize when you have nothing to lose."

In Ostend, Germany will be counting on in-form Tommy Haas and Florian Mayer to lead them to victory over hosts Belgium on clay.

Belgium will line out with the Rochus brothers, Olivier and Christophe, along with Kristof Vliegen and Dick Norman.

Uphill task

Spain will, meanwhile, be without Rafael Nadal for its tie against the United States at Winston-Salem, North Carolina, as the World No. 2 recovers from a foot problem.

The Spanish face an uphill task to overcome Andy Roddick and James Blake in the singles and doubles specialists, the Bryan twins, Bob and Mike.

Tommy Robredo, David Ferrer, Fernando Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez make up the Spanish squad for the hardcourt tie which will decide who meets either Sweden or last year's finalists Argentina, who play on carpet indoors in Gothenburg.

The South Americans enjoyed a 5-0 whitewash against the Swedes in Buenos Aires in the opening round of last year's competition.

The schedule: Russia vs. France (Moscow), Belgium vs. Germany (Ostend), USA vs. Spain (Winston-Salem), Sweden vs. Argentina (Gothenburg). — AFP

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