Youzhny retires from Davis Cup

Russian Davis Cup hero Mikhail Youzhny announced on Thursday his decision to no longer play in the team competition.

"It was a very hard decision to make - to no longer play in the Davis Cup," the 28-year-old Youzhny said as the Russian team to play Sweden away on March 4-6 in a World Group first round tie was announced.

"I started playing for Russia in the Davis Cup a very long time ago and every single match has been a tough challenge for me.

"Now I no longer feel ready to play in the Davis Cup. It is time to hand over to younger players."

Currently ranked 11th in the ATP world rankings, Youzhny has played in 23 Davis Cup ties since making his debut in 2000, winning 13 rubbers and losing 11. His win-loss record in doubles is 5-6.

Most notable among his ties was in the 2002 final against hosts France in Paris when Youzhny staged a dramatic fight back from two sets down in the deciding rubber against Paul-Henri Mathieu to hand Russia the cup.

In the victorious 2006 final in Moscow against Argentina, Youzhny was a reserve.

Nikolay Davydenko, who has seen his ranking fall to 39th, has also decided to miss the tie in Sweden in order to better prepare for the Masters Series tournament in Indian Wells.

Teymuraz Gabashvili, who is currently 76th in the world, will head the country's squad in the match for a place in the quarter-finals.

Gabashvili will be joined by Igor Andreev, who is 88th in the ATP rankings and Igor Kunitsyn, who is in 96th place.

Dmitry Tursunov completes the Russian line-up.