Feliciano Lopez, who had been handed the unenviable task of replacing injured world number one Rafael Nadal, stormed to Spain’s rescue on Friday when he levelled the Davis Cup final against Argentina.
The stylish left-hander defeated Argentine number one Juan Martin del Potro 4-6, 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 to make the score 1-1 after David Nalbandian had put the home side ahead with an easy 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 win over David Ferrer in the opening singles rubber.
Lopez overcame a passionate 11 000-strong home crowd at the Estadio Islas Malvinas to see off the 1,98m giant Del Potro, the world number nine, who ended the match with a crippling groin injury that could rule him out of Sunday’s reverse singles.
Del Potro, who had secured Argentina’s final place with fifth-rubber win over Igor Andreev in September’s semifinal against Russia, had cruised through the first set with a break in the fifth game.
But Lopez, seven years the Argentine’s senior, then took two nerve-tingling tie-breaks, defying the wild support of the local crowd who were repeatedly warned by the umpire to curb their enthusiasm.
Del Potro hurt his groin when he went 2-4 down in the fourth set and he never recovered, with Lopez taking the match when the home player netted a comfortable forehand.
”Emotionally, that was the best win of my career,” said Lopez, who is scheduled to play doubles on Saturday.
”I played a bad first set but then I was more focused and I was the better player. I found a way to play my best.”
Nalbandian had little trouble seeing off the highly strung Ferrer to give Argentina a boost in their bid to win a first Davis Cup title.
”I played a very good match. I was very solid from the first point and I was playing at a very high level,” said Nalbandian, who had gone into the match with a 3-6 record against Ferrer but has now won 14 Davis Cup rubbers at home.
”It was a short match [just over two hours], so that’s good for the rest of the weekend.”
Later Friday, Argentine captain Alberto Mancini announced that Nalbandian would replace Jose Acasuso in Saturday’s doubles rubber alongside Agustin Calleri against Lopez and Fernando Verdasco.
Acasuso could instead replace Del Potro in Sunday’s reverse singles should the world number nine not recover from his injury.
”I saw the doctor but he couldn’t give me a diagnosis. I’ll undergo tests but I won’t know anything before Saturday,” said Del Potro.
Argentina lost both of their previous Davis Cup final appearances — in 1981 against the United states and 2006 to Russia.
Spain are appearing in their sixth Davis Cup final having won the title twice, beating Australia in 2000 and the United States in 2004. — Sapa-AFP