General / Editor / 23 April 2007 /

Defending champions Russia have announced they will play Germany on clay in their Davis Cup semi-final in September.

The 10,000-seat Olympic Sports Complex in Moscow, where the Russians defeated Argentina to take last year's title, will host the tie.

"We have decided to play on a slower surface and I can say we'll make it as slow as possible," Russian tennis chief Shamil Tarpishchev said.

Tarpishchev also said he was expecting all of his top players to be available for selection for the clash which takes place from September 21-23.

Former world number one Marat Safin was instrumental in helping the holders beat France 3-2 in the quarter-finals earlier this month, but he has now fallen behind Nikolay Davydenko, Mikhail Youzhny and Dmitry Tursonov in the rankings.

A 3-2 victory over Belgium saw Germany reach the last four for the first time since 1995 - a semi-final they lost to Russia at the chosen venue.

Andrei Chesnokov guided Russia into the final after saving nine match points against former Wimbledon champion Michael Stich and Tarpishchev feels that performance will give his team an extra spur.

"Chesnokov's heroics almost 12 years ago should give us an extra motivation," he said.

Markets for the semi-final ties will open up nearer the time but in the outright winner market, Russia are currently the second favourites at 3.75 to retain the title.

USA are strongly fancied at 1.91 to emerge victorious, with Germany and Sweden the outsiders at 8.2.

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