Tired Nadal to open for Spain in Davis Cup

Cordoba: Four days after losing the US Open final, Rafael Nadal will play for Spain on Friday in the opening singles match of the Davis Cup semi-final against France.

Nadal will face Richard Gasquet on the outdoor clay court in the Los Califas bull ring.

Spain are favored to bounce back from last year's 5-0 loss to France and extend their record run of 19 straight home wins that dates back to 1999.

Nadal lost to Novak Djokovic in New York in four sets on Monday.

"I am a little tired, as is logical and not in tip-top form because I haven't had much time to train on clay, around 4-and-a-half hours," said Nadal, who has a 9-0 record against Gasquet. "And that is cutting it fine for a game against one of the best players in the world on clay."

"The truth is that I am not worn down. I played a little over four hours in the US Open final and traveled right after various days of competing at the highest level, so obviously I am tired. But I am not worn down, luckily."

Gasquet had no problem accepting the role of underdog.

"(Nadal) is the best player on clay, and (he'll have) with the crowd with him," Gasquet said. "It's a fast court, and very hot so it will be hard to press Rafa."

Spain were without Nadal for last year's match-up with the French, who are missing the injured Gael Monfils.

"Clearly, last year we were affected by the loss, but we don't come here looking for revenge," Spain captain Albert Costa said at Wednesday's draw. "The loss of Monfils is important because he is very good player on clay, but they have a very good team."

Spain's second-ranked player, David Ferrer, takes on Gilles Simon in the second singles match.

France captain Guy Forget made the surprise move of keeping his best player, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, out of the singles. He will play in Saturday's doubles with Michael Llodra against Fernando Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez.

Tsonga, a Wimbledon semi-finalist this year, was expected to play Nadal in a highly-anticipated match.

On Sunday, Nadal is set to play Simon, while Ferrer takes on Gasquet in the reverse singles.

Even with Nadal at less than 100 percent, the Spain team enters the series in excellent form. Without Nadal in the quarter-finals, Ferrer and Lopez led their country to its first win on US soil in Austin, Texas.

Costa said temperatures set to reach 98 degrees will play to his team's strength.

"I think it will be good for our team," he said. "The ball bounces (more) and we like to play under these conditions."

Defending champion Serbia will play Argentina in Belgrade in the other semi-final. Home wins by Spain and Serbia would set up a possible re-match of Nadal and Djokovic in the final beginning on December 2.