World No. 5 David Ferrer was given the responsibility to lead the Spanish Armanda as defending champions Spain clash with the United States in the semi-finals of the Davis Cup. Ferrer is the highest-ranked among those nominated for singles matches while the United States has world No. 1 doubles team of the Bob and Mike Bryan.

The series will be played on a red clay court in Gijon and the Spaniards are masters of the clay courts. Ferrer draws Sam Querrey, ranked 26th in the world, in Friday's first singles match. They are 1-1 in their head-to-head but Querrey is 1-4 lifetime in Davis Cup matches -- all of which were played on clay courts. The other singles match has American No.1 John Isner taking on Nicolas Almagro, who is ranked 12th. Almagro won their only previous meeting, a tight four-setter at Wimbledon in 2011.

The crucial doubles match is between the Bryan brothers and Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez. Lopez, like the Bryans, is a doubles specialist and ranked eighth on the ATP charts in doubles. The winner of the U.S.-Spain semi moves into the Davis Cup finals against either Argentina or the Czech Republic.