Argentina stays alive in Davis Cup final

Updated December 04, 2011 07:42:01

Argentina kept its Davis Cup final hopes alive on Sunday morning when David Nalbandian and Eduardo Schwank defeated Spain's Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 to cut the deficit to 2-1.

The result means the final will be decided on day three when Rafael Nadal tackles Juan Martin del Potro before David Ferrer is scheduled to meet Juan Monaco in the last reverse singles.

Nalbandian and Schwank were playing together for the first time but they overwhelmed the Spanish pair who have now lost 11 of their 12 matches in the competition.

Nadal and Ferrer had won Friday's opening singles as they aim for a fifth Davis Cup title and history remains on their side - the last team to recover from a 2-0 deficit in the final was Australia in 1939.

Argentina is bidding for a first Davis Cup title having lost both its previous finals - against Spain in 2008 and Russia in 2006.

"We played great. We knew it was a very important match and we played unbelievable from the start to the end," said Nalbandian, who could replace Monaco in Sunday's singles.

"The result shows how well we played. They didn't break us and we played well at the net. It'll still be very difficult on Sunday. We knew the doubles would be crucial so we will see what happens on Sunday. But we are still alive."

Six-time French Open champion Nadal will again hold the key in the reverse singles.

His easy 6-1, 6-1, 6-2 win over close friend Monaco on Friday was his 19th win in 20 singles rubbers for Spain.

His only loss came to Czech Jiri Novak on his debut - as a 17-year-old - in February 2004. He is 15-0 in clay-court rubbers.

Nadal will take a 6-3 career lead into his clash with former US Open winner Del Potro, a record which includes the pair's only previous meeting on clay, a straight sets win in the first round at Roland Garros in 2007.

The world number two also boasts a formidable record having won 66 of 67 best-of-five-sets match on clay, with his sole defeat coming at the hands of Robin Soderling at Roland Garros in 2009.

Del Potro will go into Sunday having played for almost five hours on Friday when he lost 6-2, 6-7 (2-7), 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 to Ferrer.

AFP

Tags: tennis, sport, spain, argentina

First posted December 04, 2011 07:35:32

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Spain, Argentina head for Davis Cup final

Updated September 17, 2011 16:34:01

Rafael Nadal buried the disappointment of his US Open loss to put Spain within reach of the Davis Cup final.

But champion Serbia is facing elimination after an injury blow ruled out world number one Novak Djokovic.

Nadal, defeated by Djokovic in the US Open final on Tuesday (AEST), thrashed Richard Gasquet 6-3, 6-0, 6-1 before David Ferrer defeated Gilles Simon 6-1, 6-4, 6-1 at the Cordoba bullring, as Spain led France 2-0 in their semi-final.

In Belgrade, where Serbia was facing Argentina, Djokovic was pulled from his scheduled clash against David Nalbandian, blaming fatigue and a back injury he suffered in the brutal final in New York.

Nalbandian defeated Victor Troicki, who replaced Djokovic, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 before former US Open winner Juan Martin Del Potro eased past Janko Tipsarevic 7-5, 6-3, 6-4, his third career win over the Serb, as the South Americans also led 2-0.

Victory for four-time champion Spain and Argentina, which is yet to win a Davis Cup, in the doubles will guarantee them places in the final.

Nadal had admitted to tiredness after his US Open final defeat but said that "if I come, it is above all to defend my country."

He gave Gasquet no chance in 30 degrees Celsius heat, breaking the Frenchman at the first time of asking and never giving his rival the hint of a chance before an enthusiastic 10,000 crowd.

"Even tired Nadal remains an exceptional player," said Gasquet, who has now lost all his 10 meetings with the Spaniard.

"I couldn't find a way past him. It's a painful defeat."

In other World Group play-offs ties, the Czech Republic was 2-0 ahead of Romania, with Japan 2-0 up on India and Italy 2-0 to the good against Chile.

Russia against Brazil, Croatia versus South Africa and Austria and Belgium were all level at 1-1.

AFP

Tags: tennis, sport, spain

First posted September 17, 2011 16:34:01

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