PARIS - Rafael Nadal led Spain to a 4-1 Davis Cup victory over France on Sunday, and a final date with Argentina, but there were tears for US Open winner Novak Djokovic whose injury-forced retirement saw champion 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 semifinal rubbers, the tearful Serb collapsed on court in agony in Belgrade with back pain less than a week after his Flushing Meadows triumph.

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 No 2 thrashed Richard Gasquet 6-3, 6-0, 6-1 in Friday's opening rubber.