Spanish star Rafael Nadal Tuesday played down the pressure the hosts will be under ahead of their Davis Cup final against Argentina here this weekend. “We're under the same pressure as they are, we have to win the Davis Cup,” insisted the world No. 2, who has lost just one singles rubber in the competition since making his debut in 2004. Spain has won the title four times in the past 10 years, while Argentina has never lifted the trophy, finishing runner-up three times. But team leader Nadal insisted that playing at home did not increase the pressure. Nadal will spearhead the team which includes 24th-ranked Fernando Verdasco, Feliciano Lopez (20) and David Ferrer (5), the same lineup that clinched Spain's last Davis Cup triumph in 2009 against the Czech Republic. Argentina lost the 2008 final 3-1 to the Spanish at home in Mar del Plata, also falling in their previous two clashes in 2003 and 1926. “The 2008 final was painful for Argentina, so it's normal that this time they'll have a special motivation,” said Verdasco. Spanish captain Albert Costa said his side was determined “the Cup stays here,” adding: “It's hard to say who has the greater percentage chance of winning between the teams. I don't like giving figures. If we do things well than we'll have a chance. One thing that's sure is that all the matches will be long and tough.” Federer excited Roger Federer says he is “very excited” about his prospects for next year after finishing 2011 riding a wave of optimism and with the mental scars of some painful defeats apparently healed. The Swiss won his last Grand Slam title at the 2010 Australian Open and was overshadowed by Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal and to a lesser degree Andy Murray this year but after winning a record sixth ATP World Tour Finals title on Sunday, he looks primed for a new assault on major silverware. Despite being the elder statesman of the “Big Four” at 30, Federer ended 2011 on a roll. He was unbeaten since the US Open, claimed a hat trick of indoor titles and stretched his winning streak to 17 matches. His resurgence, he said, comes after having a long, hard look at himself in the wake of a series of shattering defeats. “I think it was a mental thing,” Federer told reporters after fending off a Tsonga fightback to end the season on a high in London Sunday. “Sometimes it's about the other player. “Jo played better than me at Wimbledon. Maybe not much, but enough just to come through. Same as Rafa at the French Open in the finals, Novak in the semis of the US Open. “It's fine to respect that. But I feel when it happens maybe that often, I do have to question myself that maybe I did something wrong. “For me it was important to step back and sort of have that bird's eye view from up top and say, ‘where am I right now in my year? It's been a good year. I know I've been playing well, I've been healthy. When is all this hard work going to pay off?'
