Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco put Spain in the driving seat in the Davis Cup final on Saturday, beating Argentina’s David Nalbandian and Agustin Calleri 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 in the doubles to give their country a 2-1 lead in Mar del Plata.
The Spanish, champions in 2000 and 2004 and runners-up on three other occasions, had hardly dared hope of going into the final day leading after world No. 1 Rafael Nadal had to cry off through injury.
But Lopez, having on Friday stunned Argentine No. 1 Juan Martin del Potro 4-6, 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 after Nalbandian had thrashed David Ferrer in straight sets, once again shone as the visitors overcame an inauspicious start to tough out what may prove to be the decisive rubber.
While Argentina sweat on the fitness of groin strain victim Del Potro, who may have to cede his place in the return singles to Jose Acasuso — for whom Nalbandian stepped in on Saturday — Spanish skipper Emilio Sanchez Vicario was elated.
“That was a hard-earned win. All kinds of emotions were present in the third set — we thought we’d sunk ourselves and then we won an incredible tie-break,” said Sanchez Vicario, as the Spanish first let slip a 5-1 lead, then came back from 1-5 down in the tie-break before pocketing the final set comfortably.
“It was virtually a miracle how we won that tie-break,” said Lopez, who is having a dream final.
Verdasco was equally ebullient as the Spanish set themselves up for what would be a famous triumph given the absence of Nadal.
“I’m not certain if that was the best match of my career but in doubles, definitely,” said Verdasco, who could be preferred to Ferrer in the reverse singles against Del Potro or Acasuso before Lopez goes up against Nalbandian.
Worryingly for Argentina, in the last 36 years of Davis Cup finals, only three times have the doubles victors not gone on to win the title.
Before the start, legendary former Argentine star Guillermo Vilas received a Davis Cup Award of Excellence having starred in the event for a record 14 editions, including the 1981 final loss to the US.
The Argentines also lost the 2006 final in Russia, but were determined to land their maiden trophy in this their first final on home soil.
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