Lopez in, Costa out

Published November 4, 2003

MADRID, Nov 3: Spain called up big-serving left-hander Feliciano Lopez on Monday as part of their four-man team for the Davis Cup final against Australia later this month.

Lopez, 22, was named along with top two singles players Juan Carlos Ferrero and Carlos Moya and doubles regular Alex Corretja for the final, which will take place on grass in Melbourne from Nov 28 to 30.

Albert Costa, who played doubles with Corretja in the first three rounds this year and was part of the team that beat Australia to win the Davis Cup for the first time in Barcelona in 2000, missed out on a place in the final.

The prospect of playing the tie on grass, a surface most Spanish players are unfamiliar with, prompted the change in line-up.

Lopez reached the last 16 at Wimbledon this year, losing to eventual champion Roger Federer, and strengthened his case for a place by beating Mark Philippoussis in the recent Masters Series in Madrid.—Reuters

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