LONDON, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Just four days after winning the US Open on Monday, Rafael Nadal will play in the Davis Cup for the first time since 2011.
The London Standard quoted the world No. 2 as saying: "Given the fatigue I am feeling, I would like to rest. I am fighting for something as special as finishing as No. 1. The Davis Cup won't help me but I said I would go."
The 27-year-old is back in the Davis Cup for the first time since helping his country defeat Argentina in the 2011 final in Seville.
Spain, champions three times in the last five years, need to beat Ukraine to protect their elite World Group status after losing in Canada in the first round in February.
The tie will be played on Nadal's favoured red clay where he won the Masters event in May.
Nadal has won 20 of his 21 Davis Cup singles, including 16 of 16 on clay, his sole reverse coming on indoor carpet against Czech Jiri Novak in his first appearance in February 2004.