• What the Deuce

Enjoying a few home comforts

Rafael Nadal enjoyed a confidence boosting weekend in Spain © Getty Images

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Just seven days ago, Novak Djokovic woke up as the new US Open champion and took a trip up the Empire State Building with his shiny new trophy tucked under his arm.

Rafael Nadal on the other hand, probably had a restless sleep, haunted by the previous night's activities at Flushing Meadows. Perhaps he dreamt he was running through sand trying to reach Djokovic's fizzing returns.

At times, Nadal may as well have been in quicksand as he stood rooted to the spot, staring in disbelief as for the sixth time in 2011, Djokovic's winners continued to evade his reach as the Serb powered to victory.

But the exertion of playing 67 matches this year (winning 64 of them) looks to have caught up with Djokovic. With a few injury niggles, the Serb is paying the price for his overwhelming success.

Fortunately, with three grand slam titles on his mantelpiece and more than $10m in the bank, Djokovic can afford to put his feet up for a few weeks. Having already booked his place at the ATP World Tour Finals and with his year-end No. 1 ranking virtually secure, there is not much more he can achieve this season.

Unsurprisingly, Djokovic will have been feeling the effects of four sets of bludgeoning tennis during last week's US Open final. But Nadal was playing in that very same match, and having not finished the night with the winner's trophy and the winner's cheque, the chances are he felt every ache and pain that little bit more.

The difference between Nadal and Djokovic is not entirely physical. Djokovic may be nursing a few niggles, but having fulfilled his two lifelong goals (winning Wimbledon and becoming world No. 1) in the space of a few days, then adding a third slam to his 2011 haul, you can forgive the Serb for finding it hard to motivate himself at the risk of further injury.

Novak Djokovic celebrated his US Open victory atop the Empire State Building © Getty Images

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At the other end of the spectrum, Nadal had a lot to prove. The world No. 2 is one of the biggest critics of the decision to schedule Davis Cup ties immediately after a grand slam, but he showed no signs of fatigue in action for Spain. Still smarting from a sixth straight defeat to Djokovic, Nadal was determined to bounce back, and quickly.

Unfortunately for Richard Gasquet and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, they happened to be on the wrong side of the net as Nadal roared back with a vengeance, steamrolling past both - dropping just 10 games in six sets.

Back on home soil, in the cauldron of Cordoba's bullring, a bit of Davis Cup tennis was just what Nadal needed. After two months Stateside, returning to the clay courts in front of his adoring home fans, it was a much-needed break from the normal routine. After a very lonely night on the Arthur Ashe Court in New York, the team environment of the Davis Cup with his Spanish friends was just what the doctor ordered.

No doubt about it, Nadal will still be smarting from events in the Big Apple. Until he has solved the puzzle of how to beat his nemesis, he will not be content. But events over the weekend in Cordoba will have at least gone some way to ease the pain.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.