Nadal to miss Davis Cup defence

Rafael Nadal has announced he will not play in Spain's Davis Cup title defence in 2012.

Spain's talisman boasts a 20-1 record in the team competition

Rafael Nadal has announced he will not play in Spain's Davis Cup title defence in 2012. The world number two led Spain to victory over Argentina in the final in Seville on Sunday, beating Juan Martin del Potro 1-6 6-4 6-1 7-6. It was a fifth world team crown for the Spanish but their hopes of making it six receded within an hour when Nadal confirmed a crammed schedule - made worse by the London Olympics - would prevent him from participating next year. He said: "Next year I will not play. Next year is a very complex year. It's an Olympic year. "I have been, for many years, one of the players that plays the highest number of games in a year, and I don't want to over-play. "So next year, since it's an Olympic year, my participation in the Davis Cup is impossible. "Thank God Spain has a good level of players, and there are many good players that will replace us that play really high-level tennis." Spain will certainly miss Nadal. After two wins this weekend, he now boasts a 16-0 Davis Cup record on clay and is 20-1 overall.