When the 2008 Davis Cup final
between host Argentina and Spain commences on Friday, the host nation's David
Nalbandian will battle the visitors' David Ferrer in the opening singles
rubber in Mar del Plata.
The draw for the best-of-five tie was revealed Thursday at the palatial
surroundings of the NH Provincial Hotel.
The world No. 12 Ferrer is 6-3 lifetime against the 11th-ranked Nalbandian,
but the Argentine has won two of their last three meetings. The two men have
not met this year and have never faced off in Davis Cup play.
Nalbandian-Ferrer will be followed by a rubber between world No. 9 rising
Argentine star Juan Martin del Potro and Spanish lefthander Feliciano
Lopez on the indoor hardcourt at Estadio Islas Malvinas.
Saturday's doubles bout currently calls for an Argentine duo of Jose Acasuso
and Agustin Calleri to meet a Spanish tandem of Lopez and fellow southpaw
Fernando Verdasco, while Sunday's reverse singles currently pit the 20-year-
old del Potro against Ferrer and Nalbandian versus Lopez.
The Spaniards, captained by Emilio Sanchez, will also have Davis Cup rookie
Marcel Granollers at their disposal. Granollers joined the squad when world
No. 1 superstar Rafael Nadal announced his withdrawal last week, citing a knee
injury. The amazing Nadal was this year's Wimbledon, French Open and Olympic
champ.
The powerful Argentines, captained by Alberto Mancini, are seeking their
first-ever Davis Cup title, while the Spaniards already own two championships,
with both coming this decade, in 2000 and 2004.
Spain is 2-0 all-time versus Argentina, which is hosting for the first time
ever in this series. The Spaniards prevailed at home way back in 1926 and
again in 2003.
The Spaniards reached this year's final by beating the 32-time and defending
champion United States 4-1 in a semifinal in Madrid, while Argentina got past
Russia 3-2 in Buenos Aires, with del Potro winning the fifth and deciding
rubber.
The Argentines have won 13 straight Davis Cup ties as the host.
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