Playing the Davis Cup on clay in Madrid this week is not ideal preparation for the hard-court swing in Asia and an assault on the number one ranking, according to newly crowned US Open champion Rafa Nadal.

Spaniard Nadal, currently number two behind Novak Djokovic, is poised to replace the Serb as the world’s top-ranked player after he beat him in Monday’s final at Flushing Meadows.

Before he travels to Asia, Nadal will return to Davis Cup action for the first time since 2011 to help Spain in their World Group play-off at home to Ukraine starting tomorrow.

“Given the fatigue I am feeling, what I would like to do is rest and recuperate well physically and mentally for the Asian tour,” Nadal said yesterday.

“It’s the final sprint of the year and I am fighting for something as special as finishing as number one,” added the 27-year-old, who last held the top ranking in June 2011 and slipped to five before his return from injury in February.

“The Davis Cup won’t help me in that goal because to be prepared for what I have left it’s not good to change surfaces.

“But I committed myself and I will be in Madrid. I believe Spain deserves to be among the best for what it represents and has represented in the world of tennis for so many years.”

Spain’s Davis Cup captain Alex Corretja said he would wait and see what state Nadal was in before deciding whether his top player should feature in tomorrow’s opening singles.

He may opt to rest him and play in-form Tommy Robredo and Fernando Verdasco, keeping his best player in reserve for Saturday’s doubles or Sunday’s reverse singles in case the unfancied Ukrainians spring a surprise.

Spain are in the Davis Cup play-offs after losing away to Canada in the first round in February.