Playing in Davis Cup not 'ideal' for Asian tour preparation, says Nadal

Newly crowned US Open champion Rafael Nadal has said that playing in the Davis Cup in Spain is not ideal for him now as he would like to rest and recuperate for the upcoming Asian tour.

The Spanish second-seed is poised to replace world No.1 Novak Djokovic as the world's top-ranked player after he beat him in Monday's final at Flushing Meadows.

According to Sport24, Nadal will return to Davis Cup action for the first time since 2011 to help Spain in their World Group playoff at home to Ukraine starting on Friday before traveling to Asia.

However, the Spaniard believes that playing the Davis Cup on clay in Madrid in this weekend is not an ideal preparation for the hard-court swing in Asia as he is fatigued and wants to rest and recuperate well physically and mentally for the Asian tour, adding that he is fighting for something as special as finishing as number one.

Stating that the Asian tour will be the final 'sprint' of the year, Nadal, who last held the top ranking in June 2011 and slipped to five before his return from injury, further said that playing in the Davis Cup would not help him in the goal as to be prepared for the Asian tour, it is not good to change surfaces.

However, Nadal also said that as he has made a commitment, he feels duty bound to go to Madrid and help Spain so that it can stay in the World Group, adding that he believes that Spain deserves to be among the best for what it represents and has represented in the world of tennis.

However, Spain's Davis Cup captain Alex Corretja said he would wait and see what state Nadal was in when he arrived in the capital before deciding whether he should feature in Friday's opening singles.

Spain is in the Davis Cup playoffs after losing away to Milos Raonic's Canada in the first round in February, the report added.