‘Country’ roads beckon Djokovic and Nadal

With precious little time to rest after their brutal US Open final, Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal will be energised by national pride this weekend as they lead their countries into battle in the Davis Cup semifinals.

Djokovic will enjoy a deafening reception in the cavernous Belgrade Arena where Serbia host Argentina. But Djokovic’s participation in the opening rubber against David Nalbandian has been thrown into doubt.

Meanwhile in a Cordoba bull ring, Nadal will have the perfect stage to vent the frustration of his defeat by Djokovic as Spain host last year’s runners-up France seeking to banish the memory of a 5-0 thrashing last year.

Argentina are the only one of the semifinalists not to win the trophy, but have a powerful line-up with Juan Martin del Potro and Nalbandian joined by Juan Ignacio Chela and Juan Monaco.

Nadal did not play in the previous round against the United States but with France boasting Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Gael Monfils, Gilles Simon and Richard Gasquet, the Mallorcan’s availability is a big boost for Spain.