David Nalbandian and Eduardo Schwank trounced Spain's Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 to secure Argentina's first point of the Davis Cup final Saturday and keep the best-of-five tie alive ahead of Sunday's reverse singles. After Rafa Nadal and David Ferrer put favorites Spain 2-0 ahead Friday, victory for Nalbandian and doubles specialist Schwank means Argentina still has a slim chance of winning a first Davis Cup in its fourth final and avenging defeat to Spain in the 2008 title match in Mar del Plata. However, with world No. 2 Nadal apparently unbeatable on his beloved clay and full of confidence after his demolition of Juan Monaco Friday, Spain remains on course for a fifth Davis Cup triumph and a third title in four years. “We're optimistic,” Spain captain Albert Costa told a news conference. “Tomorrow I have Rafa and David and we're going to win one of those two points.” Saturday's doubles rubber was always going to be Argentina's best chance of a point, with Lopez and Verdasco coming into the match having lost 10 of their last 11 outings together in all competitions. Not even the raucous home support at the purpose-built indoor court inside Seville's Olympic stadium could will them to victory, Argentina's success delighting the outnumbered but vocal away fans. Nalbandian and Schwank converted five of their six break points and saved all three they faced with an efficient display and sealed victory when Verdasco netted a simple volley, a fitting end to a poor Spanish performance. Lopez told a news conference it had been his worst performance in the competition. While Nadal beat Monaco 6-1, 6-1, 6-2, David Ferrer fought back from two sets to one down to beat Del Potro 6-2, 6-7, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 after almost five hours of attritional tennis. Nadal is due to play Juan Martin del Potro, who lost a grueling five-set match to Ferrer Friday, in Sunday's opening singles rubber before Ferrer takes on Monaco.
