Rafael Nadal led Spain to a 4-1 Davis Cup win over France yesterday, and a final date with Argentina, but there were tears for US Open champion Novak Djokovic whose injury-forced retirement saw defending champions Serbia slump 3-2 to the South Americans.

As Nadal brushed aside fatigue from his US Open final loss to Djokovic to win two of his side’s semi-final rubbers, the tearful Serb collapsed on court in agony in Belgrade with back pain.

Nadal slayed France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-0, 6-2, 6-4 in Cordoba’s bullring to secure the winning point after the world number two thrashed Richard Gasquet 6-3, 6-0, 6-1 in Friday’s opening rubber.

“It’s really unbelieveable, the feelings are very, very emotional here today,” said Nadal, who has a 18-1 win-loss record in Davis Cup.

Fernando Verdasco completed the rout for the hosts when he beat Gasquet 6-2, 6-1 in the final dead rubber.

In Belgrade, Djokovic admitted he had been carrying a back injury from the US Open as he retired while trailing 7-6 (7/5), 3-0 in the day’s first reverse singles to Juan Martin Del Potro.

Djokovic, who missed the opening day’s play with a back injury, replaced Viktor Troicki in the line-up as captain Bogdan Obradovic tried to get the champions back into the tie in which they trailed 2-1 overnight.

“Of course, I am very disappointed that the match ended this way,” said the world number one.

“I tried, but it did not work, I was not even 60 per cent ready, but we have accepted that risk although we knew that my injury could worsen,” added Djokovic, who had needed treatment on his back during his US Open final win.

It was only the third defeat in 67 matches this season for the Serb and his second retirement.

Djokovic’s absence on Friday had seen Serbia slump 2-0 before Troicki and Nenad Zimonjic defeated Juan Ignacio Chela and Juan Monaco 7-6 (7/4), 6-4, 6-2 to keep the hosts’ bid alive.

In the dead rubber, Monaco, who replaced David Nalbandian, retired after the first set against Janko Tipsarevic, which the Serbian player had won 6-2.

Argentina will travel to Spain for the December 2-4 final as they bid to win their first Davis Cup trophy after finishing runners-up in 1981, 2006 and 2008.

The Nadal-inspired Spanish, who are looking unbeatable on clay, are bidding for their fifth title after 2000, 2004, 2008, 2009.

David Ferrer defeated Gilles Simon 6-1, 6-4, 6-1 on Friday before Tsonga and Michael Llodra kept France’s hopes alive on Saturday when they beat Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco 6-1, 6-2, 6-0.

In early World Group play-off ties, the Czech Republic completed a 5-0 whitewash of Romania to advance along with Japan who beat India 4-1.

Austria, Italy and Croatia also booked their berths in next season’s World Group.

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