Russia's Davis Cup hopes suffer double scare

ST PETERSBURG: Russia have suffered a huge setback to their Davis Cup hopes after Nikolay Davydenko and Mikhail Youzhny retired with injuries at the St Petersburg Open on Wednesday.   

Top seed Davydenko quit his second-round match against South Africa's Wesley Moodie with an apparent foot injury while leading 6-2 3-3.   

Just 30 minutes earlier eighth-seeded Youzhny pulled out of the $1 million tournament after spraining his right ankle in a doubles match. Swede Thomas Johansson received a walkover into the singles quarter-finals as a result.   

Russia host Argentina in the Davis Cup final from Dec. 1-3 in Moscow.   

Youzhny's injury appears to be more serious. The world number 23 was taken to a local hospital for x-rays.   

"Medical test will show if Youzhny would be able to participate in any future tournaments for the rest of the year," ATP officials said.