Argentina was relieved when David Nalbandian drew the opening singles in the Davis Cup final against Spain starting on Friday. Juan Martin del Potro overtook Nalbandian last month to become Argentina's highest-ranked player, but the 20-year-old who made his Davis Cup debut only last year still defers to the veteran Nalbandian for advice and support. Nalbandian will play David Ferrer first, followed by del Potro against Feliciano Lopez on the blue indoor hard-court at Islas Malvinas Stadium especially chosen by Argentina to thwart Spain's mastery on clay. “Juan Martin had a slight preference to play second,” Argentina captain Alberto Mancini said at Thursday's draw. “And the fact that David is first is good because he has more experience.” Argentina, unbeaten in 13 home ties since 1988, left the comfort of its clay-court Parque Roca Stadium in Buenos Aires to try and win its first Davis Cup, after losses in the 1981 and 2006 finals far from home. It's chances of triumphing in its first home final were dramatically improved after world No. 1 Rafael Nadal withdrew injured this month, but Spain has promised to fight for every point in what is expected to be a cauldron of abuse against them from 11,100 spectators. “Being hosts and with Rafa not coming, no one doubts that Argentina is the favorite,” Mancini said. Ferrer agreed, sort of. “With Rafa we weren't the favorites, and now, without Rafa, even less,” he said. “But that doesn't mean we can't win.” Despite an impressive 26-8 record in Davis Cup, 11th-ranked Nalbandian has lost six of his nine matches against 12th-ranked Ferrer. But notably, Nalbandian led 3-2 on hard-courts, and finished the ATP season on a high with a win and two finals in his last four tournaments. Born only three months after Nalbandian, Ferrer won only two of six matches after the US Open. “Ferrer is a complete player, very even, solid along the back of the court, and he runs and fights for each ball,” Nalbandian said. The 6-foot-6 (1.98-meter) del Potro leads Lopez 2-1 in head-to-head. Del Potro was this year's biggest improver on the tour, rising from No. 81 ranking in April to his current No. 9. He suddenly won four consecutive summer tournaments and reeled off 23 straight wins until the US Open quarterfinals, and clinched the win against Russia in the semifinals in September. For Saturday's doubles, Jose Acasuso and Agustin Calleri of Argentina have been paired against Lopez and Fernando Verdasco. Acasuso and Calleri have never played together in Davis Cup, and in their only ATP event this year, they reached the Basel semifinals last month. If Nalbandian doesn't break into the team as he has in the past, they will be the underdogs against Lopez and Verdasco. In Sunday's reverse singles, del Potro was drawn to play No. 1 counterpart Ferrer (Ferrer leads 2-1) and Nalbandian against Lopez (Nalbandian leads 2
