LEAD: Nadal to open Davis Cup final against good friend Monaco

Dec 1, 2011, 14:29 GMT

Seville, Spain - Friendship will be out aside on Friday when Rafael Nadal begins Spain's bid for a fifth Davis Cup title with an opening rubber against Argentine Juan Monaco.

Nadal will find out day just how well he has recovered mentally after losing two of his three group matches at last week's ATP season wrap-up in London, a performance which sent the world number two onto the clay of Seville for intense practise.

'I'm motivated to share this final with my friends,' said Nadal. 'Even if I'm tired I'll play my best.'

Nadal said that facing his mate for the first time in four years will not be easy despite holding a 2-1 record in the series.

'Juan is physically special, he has a good rhythm on court with a very solid backhand, I'll have to play very well if I want to win this match,' said the winner of 18 Davis Cup singles ties. Added Monaco: 'I'm proud to represent Argentina. When I go onto the court I will just be wanting to win. I'll play every point at 100 per cent.

World Tour Finals semi-finalist David Ferrer will play the second singles rubber against Argentine Juan Del Potro.

Saturday's doubles will pit Spaniards Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco against the Argentine squad of David Nalbandian and Eduardo Schwank.

'I'm getting older, I'm not playing singles but I feel confident for the doubles,' said Nalbandian, who turns 30 on January 1.

In Sunday's reverse singles, Nadal faces Del Potro in a battle of Grand Slam winners while Ferrer is to play Monaco.

Spain are bidding for a third title in four years and a fifth overall since 2000 while Argentina have lost three finals.

The tie with will be a re-run of the 2008 final in which Spain travelled to South America, without Nadal, and returned with the trophy.

The Argentines were less than pleased after 7 am anti-doping tests which put them in a poor humour one day before the start.

'We know it can happen, the rules of the controls doping,' said Del Potro. 'But I don't want to talk much about it.'

Argentine captain Tito Vazquez said that the timing could not have been more disruptive, saying: 'Today was a day of rest. Testing at 6:30, seven o'clock seemed a bit out of place.'

Nadal, long a critic of the method of testing which almost presumes guilt before innocence, said that he's sure the testers will soon strike his team.

'I'm the first to want a clean sport, but don't agree with this system. It leaves a lot to be desired,' said Nadal.