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Safin to lead depleted Russia side

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MOSCOW, Russia -- Former world number one Marat Safin will lead a depleted squad when Davis Cup holders Russia launch their campaign against Chile next month.

Captain Shamil Tarpishchev also chose Teimuraz Gabashvili, Yuri Schukin, Dmitry Tursunov and Igor Andreev for the February 9-11 tie on clay in La Serena, Chile.

Russia are resting world No.3 Nikolay Davydenko and 25th-ranked Mikhail Youzhny.

World number 21 Tursunov, a member of the team which beat Argentina 3-2 last month to claim Russia's second Davis Cup title, is doubtful with a wrist injury.

"If Tursunov can't play we are down to Gabashvili and Schukin, who will be nominated for the four-man team along with Safin and Andreev," said Tarpishchev.

Gabashvili is ranked 113th in the world and Schukin 272nd.

Andreev missed much of last year following knee surgery as his ranking dipped from a career-high 23 to 136.

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