Nadal spearheads Spain's Davis Cup team in Belgium

Spain captain Alberto Costa says top-ranked Rafael Nadal will play for the four-time Davis Cup champions in their first-round series against Belgium.

The best-of-five matchup will mark Nadal's first return to the court since an Australian Open quarterfinal loss to fellow Spaniard David Ferrer, who is in the team alongside Fernando Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez.

Nadal tore a muscle in his right leg at the Australian Open, which denied him the chance to hold all four Grand Slam titles at once.

Nadal is playing in the Davis Cup for the first time since helping Spain to its fourth title in 2009.

Spain has won two of three previous matchups against Belgium. The series will be held in Charleroi from March 4-6.