CORDOBA, Spain (AP) The head of the International Tennis Federation says Rafael Nadal shouldn't blame the Davis Cup for the crowded tennis schedule after playing in the event so little in recent years.
Nadal was again critical of the busy schedule Friday after winning the first match in Spain's 2-0 Davis Cup semifinal lead over France. The win came four days after he lost the U.S. Open final in New York to Novak Djokovic. Asked if players could strike over the convoluted calendar, Nadal did not rule out ``strong action.''
ITF president Francesco Ricci says Nadal is probably tired after playing 70 times this season. He called the second-ranked Spaniard's arguments ``inconsistent'' because he has played only three times for Spain in the past two seasons.