Nikolay Davydenko and Mikhail Youzhny on team

General / Editor / 05 April 2007 / Leave a Comment

Nikolay Davydenko and Mikhail Youzhny have been included in the Russia team to face France in the Davis Cup quarter-finals.

The world number four and 17 missed the first round victory over Chile and their returns will to add to an already formidable line-up.

The defending champions have not lost to the French in the competition for 24 years and with a full-strength squad, are expected to reach the last four.

Russia captain Shamil Tarpishchev also has Marat Safin and Igor Andreev to call upon in front of their home fans at the Luzhniki Arena - with the match getting underway on Friday.

Even France captain Guy Forget, who has Richard Gasquet, Sebastien Grosjean, Paul-Henri Mathieu, Michael Llodra and Arnaud Clement at his disposal, expects his side to face an uphill task.

Forget admitted: "They are clear favourites now (with the return of Davydenko and Youzhny). I think that Russia now has the best Davis Cup team in the world."

Betfair punters expect the home side to win, with Russia trading at 1.46 and France available to back at 3.1.
Meanwhile, Russia are currently 4.2 co-favourites with Argentina and USA to lift the Davis Cup with France available at 10.5.