Serbia beats Spain in ATP Cup final as Nadal sits out decider

Serbia won Sunday's ATP Cup final against Spain, triumphing 6-3, 6-4 in the doubles decider.

Spain broke Serbia in the first game and held both of its opening games to love, but Novak Djokovic soon wrested control of the main stage and inspired his country's victory in the first edition of the ATP Cup.

Rafael Nadal was slated to face Djokovic again in the tournament-concluding doubles affair after losing to his rival in a singles tussle earlier in the day. But Nadal instead picked Feliciano Lopez to partner Pablo Carreno Busta against Djokovic and Viktor Troicki, citing fatigue and discomfort for his absence, according to El Espanol's Rafael Plaza.

The score was tied 1-1 between Serbia and Spain leading into the third and deciding fixture at Ken Rosewall Arena after Djokovic's defeat of Nadal followed Roberto Bautista Agut's two-set win over Dusan Lajovic.

It wasn't close for long, though, as 16-time Grand Slam winner Djokovic appeared to settle teammate Troicki's nerves before orchestrating Serbia's success in New South Wales.

"I'll remember this experience for the rest of my life as definitely one of the nicest moments of my career, for sure," Djokovic said after the match.

"I've been very fortunate and blessed to have an amazing career the last 15 years, but playing for the team, playing for the country with some of my best friends for a long, long time - you can't match that. That's just too special."

Bushfires are currently ravaging Australia, but the nation now steps up its preparations to host the Australian Open in Melbourne between Jan. 20 and Feb. 2.