Nicolas Massu believes that the absence of Wimbledon runner-up Tomas Berdych has given Chile a fighting chance going into Davis Cup quarter-final assault against the Czech Republic, starting today.

Massu, 30, considers Chile the underdogs even though they have home advantage at the Enjoy Tennis Centre in Coquimbo. But their hopes received a timely boost when Czech No. 1 Berdych ruled himself out of the tie because of abdominal muscle injury.

Massu said: "The Czechs are favourites but we will try our best and see what happens. We have nothing to lose.To play for Chile is everything. I believe in myself although all the pressure is on me."