Nadal skips Davis Cup tie v U.S., blasts schedule

MADRID (Reuters) - Rafa Nadal will miss Spain's Davis Cup clash with the United States next month to rest, complaining the tournament risked losing its prestige due to "inconsiderate" scheduling.

Spain captain Albert Costa instead called up Marcel Granollers as a replacement Monday, the world's 48th ranked player joining David Ferrer, Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco in the side.

"I won't be there. The priority is to be healthy and I have to stop," the world number one told sports daily AS Monday.

"I can't be everywhere. After finishing the first part of the season I need to rest. I need 15 to 20 days to be in good shape for the second half of the season.

"I should have a check-up on my knees, and see how everything is going with the treatment we did, which is what has allowed me to carry on. The idea is to do what I did in 2010 to arrive the same or even better prepared for the U.S. Open."

"The International Tennis Federation (ITF) continues to get it wrong by insisting with the format and calendar for the Davis Cup," he said.

"There is zero consideration toward us, the players. If the best players don't attend, the competition loses prestige. The ITF should ask themselves why this happens."

Spain, the four-times Davis Cup winners, play the United States in a World Group quarter-final in Austin, Texas on July 8-10. The U.S. Open runs from August 29 to September 11.

(Writing by Mark Elkington; Editing by Alastair Himmer and Sonia Oxley; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)