PREVIEW-Tennis-No Davis Cup distractions for Nadal in Madrid

By Mark Elkington

MADRID, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Strengthening his position at the top of the world rankings is the priority for Rafael Nadal rather than November's Davis Cup final against Argentina, the Spaniard said ahead of next week's Madrid Masters.

The 22-year-old's has had a spectacular season, winning a fourth consecutive French Open, gold at the Beijing Olympics and his maiden Wimbledon title to replace arch-rival Roger Federer as the world number one.

He is not about to give that up easily.

"My objective is to arrive safely on Wednesday, ready to play a good match. Winning the tournament isn't the objective but to ensure I am still number one at the end of the year," Nadal said after a training session on Friday.

He batted away a flurry of questions from local media about the Davis Cup final, saying: "I am playing Madrid now, then Paris, Shanghai and after that you can ask me about Mar del Plata."

Federer's cool demolition of Andy Murray in last month's U.S. Open final added to the feeling that the Swiss world number two has rediscovered his best form, and there is the possibility of a fifth meeting with Nadal this term, in Madrid.

Nadal has won all four clashes between the two in 2008.

"It would be great to have another duel with Federer. If I play him it means I will be number one at the end of the year because I will have reached the final. I can only meet him there," Nadal added.