Tennis:Argentina kept alive their Davis Cup final hopes with a crushing straight-sets victory over Spain in today's doubles rubber at the Olympic Stadium in Seville.
After falling 2-0 behind in the best-of-five final yesterday, the South Americans recovered in style 24 hours later as David Nalbandian and Eduardo Schwank saw off the out-of-sorts Spanish pairing of Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco 6-4 6-2 6-3.
Argentina’s victory in one hour and 59 minutes means they trail 2-1 heading into Sunday’s deciding singles matches, which are scheduled to pit Rafael Nadal against Juan Martin Del Potro in a blockbuster fourth rubber before David Ferrer and Juan Monaco face off in the fifth.
However, such was the impressive form of Nalbandian today, there remains the possibility that the world number 64 could be drafted in by Argentina skipper Tito Vazquez for one of the remaining clashes.
The pressure was very much on Argentina coming into the match after Ferrer’s epic five-set win over Del Potro in Friday’s second match left Vazquez’s men facing the unpalatable prospect of losing the tie inside two days.
But Nalbandian and Schwank set about their task with confidence, claiming the only break of a closely-fought opening set to establish an early advantage.
Verdasco fired long in the first game of the second set to hand Argentina their second break of the match and put them firmly in the driving seat.
The form of Verdasco was one of the big disappointments of the one-sided encounter, the world number 24 giving up a raft of errors from his racquet head to make the job that much easier for the Argentinians.
Another break followed as Argentina extended their advantage, while a crushing Nalbandian ace put the South Americans 5-1 ahead to leave no way back for Spain.
The third set started in identical fashion to the second, a break of the Spanish serve in the first game making an Argentina win look a mere formality.
Spain briefly threatened to make a fight of it, however, forcing break-back point at 2-3, but the Argentinians, with Nalbandian in particular putting on a fine show, held on to move to 4-2.
Spain also took the next Argentina service game to deuce but again the opposition stepped up when required, Nalbandian swatting away a winner to take it to 5-3.
Schwank was the hero in the deciding game, a winning backhand on the first point putting Argentina in charge before an exquisite lob made it 30-30, while Verdasco again was found wanting on the next two points as Argentina wrapped up the win.
“We played a great match from the beginning and it was unbelievable for us,” said Nalbandian. “We didn’t lose concentration at any moment and this was very important for us. We needed to keep alive in the tie and we still have a chance.”
Asked whether he was ready to step in and play one of tomorrow’s crucial singles rubbers, Nalbandian said: “We didn’t talk about it yet but I feel good.”
Skipper Vazquez hailed the resolve of his players and hinted that should he choose to draft in Nalbandian tomorrow, it will be in the match against Ferrer, rather than denying Del Potro his shot at Nadal.
“It was great performance, we played well,” said Vazquez. “They won the match from beginning to end so I am very happy.
“We were hoping that Del Porto would win yesterday and put us in a good position, but if anyone is capable of beating Nadal, that is Juan Martin.”