Nadal, struggling with tendinitis in his knees that forced him to skip his Wimbledon title defence this year, was left off the Davis Cup team announced Tuesday for the matches in Marbella in southern Spain July 10-12.
Coach Albert Costa has called up Fernando Verdasco, David Ferrer, Feliciano Lopez and Tommy Robredo, plus Nicolas Almagro as a standby.
Nadal "is not well and we have to let him rest,'' Costa told a news conference.
Nadal may play grass-court exhibition tournament
Week 3 marked by hats, cards, surprises
New breed of holding midfielders emerging
Croatia lists Karlovic, Cilic in Davis Cup vs. US
