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Thursday, 1 December 2011

Tired Nadal to Lead Davis Cup Spain


Rafael Nadal says he is ready to lead Spain to a fifth Davis Cup title by beating Argentina, despite complaining of "a lack of passion" for tennis.

Spain's top-ranked player had provoked alarm with his comments after a disappointing ATP World Tour Finals.

Nadal later added his words had been "blown out of proportion" and related to "weariness from years of playing".

The World No 2 was drawn against Argentina's Juan Monaco in tomorrow's opening singles match.

The Davis Cup final begins on Friday, 2 December and finishes on Sunday, 4 December on Nadal's favoured clay-court surface at the Olympic Stadium in Seville.

The Spaniard, 25, was knocked out of the season-end ATP World Tour Finals last week defeat by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the group stages, his fourth loss in 10 matches.

Afterwards the world number two said: "I probably had a bit less passion for the game because I was more tired than usual."

Following a practice session for the Davis Cup final, Nadal said his words had been exaggerated.

He commented: "Things get blown out of proportion very often because conclusions are drawn far beyond the meaning of what's said.

"It's true that this season has been tough. More than a lack of passion, it is a weariness from many years of playing at this level, week after week.

"The important thing now is to work each day at 100% with the excitement needed to win the Davis Cup.

"They [Argentina] have great players, all of which stand out on the circuit, so the only thing we can do is concentrate on reaching the final as prepared as possible and then hope our rivals don't have an inspired weekend."

The contest is a repeat of the 2008 final, when Spain won on a hard indoor surface in Argentinadespite missing Nadal because of injury.

This time Nadal, who has a perfect 18-0 record since losing in his Davis Cup debut in 2004, will lead a Spain team which includes the fifth-ranked David Ferrer and Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco.

Alberto Costa has selected Nadal and world number five Ferrer for the singles, while Lopez and Verdasco are the doubles pairing.

Ferrer conceded the South Americans have a big advantage, with himself and Nadal having played this week.

"I'm very tired," said Ferrer, who plays Juan Martin del Potro in the second singles match. "I want to stop, but I can't because I have the Davis Cup.

"It is a disadvantage because we've played more matches. We'll be more tired. We have to change now to clay courts. The Argentinian guys, they were practising two weeks ago on clay."

Argentina are seeking a first title in four attempts.

Juan Monaco, Juan Ignacio Chela and Eduardo Schwank complete Argentina's provisional squad.

Nalbandian, who will be playing in his third final for Argentina, was left out of the singles draw and will instead partner with Schwank in Saturday's doubles against Verdasco and Lopez.

Verdasco said he knows the Argentines were hurt by the defeat three years ago.

"They were at home and favourites and it's clear they want to pay us back," he commented. "But we are preparing as if we have never won it before."

The two final singles rubbers on Sunday will see Nadal meet Del Petro and Ferrer confront Monaco.

Spain have lifted the Davis Cup on four occasions - 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2009.

Argentina finished runners-up in 1981, 2006 and 2008, but are yet to win the trophy.