Madrid, Spain, 18 February 2011 | AFP

World No.1 Rafael Nadal will spearhead Spain’s bid to recapture the Davis Cup title starting in their World Group first round tie in Belgium next month, the Spanish Tennis Federation (RFET) announced on Thursday.

Nadal will be joined by David Ferrer, Fernando Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez in the team unveiled by captain Albert Costa in the south-eastern town of Alicante.

Costa’s four-time champions will be hoping to recapture the title they won in 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2009.

The tie in Charleroi from March 4-6 will be the fourth time that the two countries have met with Spain leading their head-to-head series 2-1.

Belgium’s best performance was back in 1904, when they finished runners-up. They were semi-finalists in 1999.