MAR DEL PLATA, Argentina -- Feliciano Lopez upset Juan Martin Del Potro 4-6, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (4), 6-3 Friday, allowing Spain to escape the first day of the Davis Cup final tied 1-1 tie with Argentina.
David Nalbandian brushed aside David Ferrer 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 in the opening singles, and Del Potro was expected to comfortably handle Lopez on his favored hard court.
But Lopez took the two tiebreakers, and Del Potro injured his right thigh in the sixth game of the fourth set. After treatment, he lost his serve and Lopez cruised to victory in 3 hours, 19 minutes, hushing the boisterous crowd of about 10,000 at Islas Malvinas Stadium.
"I never felt this happy before in my career," Lopez said. "It's great to win a match like today, in a Davis Cup final, away from home."
Del Potro's injury and his defeat suddenly made Saturday's doubles even more crucial for Argentina, a heavy favorite to win its first Davis Cup, and unbeaten at home for 10 years. Spain is looking to add to its home victories in 2000 and 2004.
David Nalbandian was picked to join Agustin Calleri against the experienced Spanish pair of Lopez and Fernando Verdasco.
The manner of Nalbandian's easy and quick singles win likely persuaded Argentina captain Alberto Mancini to play Nalbandian in doubles. He has a 10-4 record in Davis Cup doubles, and has won with Acasuso and Calleri.
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| After winning his match, Feliciano Lopez wants to hear from the crowd what the score is. (AP) |
"The doctor could not make a diagnosis right now," Del Potro said. "I don't know what the injury is. Tomorrow we'll find out what happened."
Spain was playing without top-ranked Rafael Nadal, who has knee tendinitis. Captain Sanchez Vicario replaced him with 56th-ranked Marcel Granollers. The Davis Cup final has not featured a No. 1 player since Australia's Lleyton Hewitt in 2001.
Nadal was vacationing at an undisclosed location, but kept phoning his countrymen for updates.
"He was calling the people on the bench in between points to find out because they cut the TV signal in the hotel he is staying (at)," Lopez said.
Argentina finished second to the United States in 1981 and to Russia in 2006. It chose the blue indoor hard court for the final, trying to curtail the Spaniards' advantage on clay.
