Rafael Nadal may be weary but he's still intending to lead Spain's quest for a sixth Davis Cup title against Argentina this week.
Nadal first announced himself to the wider tennis world with his performances in the 2004 final. Aged just 18, the prodigious left-hander inspired his country to victory over the United States, beating Andy Roddick on the opening day.
The competition means a huge amount to the world number two but after his early exit at the ATP World Tour Finals last week, a despondent Nadal was uncertain as to whether he'll be able to produce his best against Argentina.
"We'll see. I don't know. I don't know," he told the press. "That's completely different conditions. I'm going to be practicing for one week on clay. Even if I am not playing perfect, the surface helps me."
"I was a little bit slower than usual [in London], but I think I was a little bit slower than usual because my mind wasn't perfect, so the reaction was late. So on clay I have more time to think. The movements are a little bit easier for me. I'm going to have the right team there supporting me and practicing hard. I will try my best every day to try to win the Davis Cup for my country. [But] I'm lucky, if I'm not in the right conditions, the captain can choose another player."
“The important thing now is to work each day at 100 percent with the excitement needed to win the Davis Cup.”
