Rafael Nadal To Lead Spain In Davis Cup Final
04 December 2009
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Rafael Nadal kicks off Spain's campaign to retain the Davis Cup title this afternoon when he faces Tomas Berdych.
Despite a poor run of form recently Spain's captain Albert Costa has kept the faith with the world number two as they face the Czech Republic on home soil at Palau Sant Jordi.
Nadal started the 2009 season in fine form winning the Australian Open for the very first time, beating Roger Federer in an epic five set thriller.
He went on to take the Indian Wells Masters before going on a winning run in clay winning in Monte Carlo, Rome and Barcelona.
But since the French Open his season has been blighted with injury, tendonitis forced him to pull out of Wimbledon.
Just as it seemed that his troubled were behind him he picked up a abdomen strain that hampered his U.S. Open, he did however go on to reach the semi finals.
Since then he has struggled with his form and confidence and failed to win a single set at the ATP World Tour Finals in London last week.
However the popular Spaniard, who has finished the year as world number two, is not surprised at his results in London and dismissed any injury rumours telling the BBC:
"It wasn't a big surprise. When you are not 100% at a tournament like that you're going to lose.
"Here I am 100%. I will be playing a little bit better I hope. You can't always play perfect but I think I'm ready for tomorrow."
Despite his recent form the Spaniard will be the heavy favourite going into the match as his a Davis Cup singles record of 10-0 when playing on his favourite surface of clay.
And it's a full strength Spanish team that will back Nadal as David Ferrer will play the second of the single rubbers today against Radek Stepanek.
Ferrer has been out for the past six weeks with an injury but has been deemed fit to play over the higher ranked Fernando Verdasco.
Verdasco also had a torrid time in London last week as he to failed to win a match but he will team up with Feliciano Lopez in Saturday's doubles before the final round of singles on Sunday.
The final this weekend will be the first time that Nadal has played for his country in the Davis Cup since the beginning of the year because of injury.
The twenty three year old was forced to miss last year's final against Argentina because of another bout of tendonitis.
Play gets underway at 3pm this afternoon.
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