Argentina beats Spain in doubles to stay alive
Source: Agencies |
December 5, 2011, Monday
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ARGENTINA beat Spain in doubles to cut its Davis Cup final deficit to 2-1 on Saturday, although the South Americans will have to beat Rafael Nadal on his favorite clay surface to keep their chances of a maiden title alive.
David Nalbandian and Eduardo Schwank, partnering for the first time, eased to a 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 victory over Spanish pair Fernando Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez at Olympic Stadium in Seville, Spain.
The South Americans broke five times and repelled each of the three they faced against their Spanish counterparts to extend the tie. The visitors need to sweep reverse singles to become the first team in 72 years to rally from a 2-0 deficit.
"We played a great game. We're in very good shape, and the series is still alive," Nalbandian said after helping Argentina to its first doubles point in a final, on the fourth try. "Our hope is intact."
But such an achievement appears difficult with Nadal, unbeaten on clay in the competition, opening for the four-time champion against Juan Martin del Potro. The 11th-ranked Del Potro has to bounce back from his exhausting near five-hour singles loss and hand 10-time major champion Nadal his first loss on clay in 16 Davis Cup matches.
"It's normal (Del Potro) feels tired but I think he's ready for the challenge tomorrow," Argentina captain Tito Vazquez said. "To take it to a fifth match we have to win the fourth and that means we have to beat Rafa Nadal.
"It's not so simple."
Nadal and Ferrer trained normally on Saturday. The pair is a combined 27-0 on clay for Spain, which hasn't lost a home tie on clay since 1999.
"I'm not pessimistic. Tomorrow we have Nadal and Ferrer to win one point," said Spain captain Albert Costa, who expected Nalbandian to replace Juan Monaco should the final stretch to a fifth match.
Lopez and Verdasco again failed to follow up an impressive sweep of the opening singles by Nadal and David Ferrer. They also lost in the semifinals against France in which they won only three games.
"Today was one of those days I'd like to forget," Lopez said. "It was my worst ever Davis Cup match."
David Nalbandian and Eduardo Schwank, partnering for the first time, eased to a 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 victory over Spanish pair Fernando Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez at Olympic Stadium in Seville, Spain.
The South Americans broke five times and repelled each of the three they faced against their Spanish counterparts to extend the tie. The visitors need to sweep reverse singles to become the first team in 72 years to rally from a 2-0 deficit.
"We played a great game. We're in very good shape, and the series is still alive," Nalbandian said after helping Argentina to its first doubles point in a final, on the fourth try. "Our hope is intact."
But such an achievement appears difficult with Nadal, unbeaten on clay in the competition, opening for the four-time champion against Juan Martin del Potro. The 11th-ranked Del Potro has to bounce back from his exhausting near five-hour singles loss and hand 10-time major champion Nadal his first loss on clay in 16 Davis Cup matches.
"It's normal (Del Potro) feels tired but I think he's ready for the challenge tomorrow," Argentina captain Tito Vazquez said. "To take it to a fifth match we have to win the fourth and that means we have to beat Rafa Nadal.
"It's not so simple."
Nadal and Ferrer trained normally on Saturday. The pair is a combined 27-0 on clay for Spain, which hasn't lost a home tie on clay since 1999.
"I'm not pessimistic. Tomorrow we have Nadal and Ferrer to win one point," said Spain captain Albert Costa, who expected Nalbandian to replace Juan Monaco should the final stretch to a fifth match.
Lopez and Verdasco again failed to follow up an impressive sweep of the opening singles by Nadal and David Ferrer. They also lost in the semifinals against France in which they won only three games.
"Today was one of those days I'd like to forget," Lopez said. "It was my worst ever Davis Cup match."
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