Del Potro to lead Argentina in Davis Cup final against Spain

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina -- Juan Martin Del Potro, David Nalbandian, Agustin Calleri and Jose Acasuso are tasked with winning Argentina's first Davis Cup title in the home final against Spain this month.

Acasuso was the only surprise in the team named by captain Alberto Mancini in a statement from the Argentine Tennis Association on Tuesday.

He replaced the more experienced Guillermo Canas from the team which beat Russia in the semifinals in September.

Neither Mancini nor the ATA gave reasons in the statement.

Mancini said last month he was worried about picking the best doubles team, as he didn't want to load Nalbandian with three matches in three days, a move which didn't pay off against Russia. Calleri and Acasuso could play the doubles, or one of them could partner Nalbandian in Mar Del Plata.

Calleri had a 6-2 record in Davis Cup doubles with four different partners but hasn't played the Saturday match since 2006. Acasuso was 2-1 in doubles, both wins with Nalbandian. Calleri and Acasuso have never played doubles together in the Davis Cup. In their only ATP appearance this year, they reached the semifinals at Basel last month.

For the first time, Del Potro will go into a tie higher ranked than Nalbandian, at No. 8 to 11, guaranteeing he won't face Spain leader Rafael Nadal until Sunday's reverse singles.

However, there was a chance the top-ranked Nadal may miss the indoor hard-court final from Nov. 21-23, as he has tendinitis in his right knee which forced him to withdraw from next week's Masters Cup in Shanghai.

Del Potro qualified for the Masters Cup for the first time, while Nalbandian missed out after losing the Paris Masters final on Sunday. Nalbandian and Del Potro met each other three times in the last three weeks, with Nalbandian winning twice.