DAVIS CUP FINAL LINE-UP
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Argentina to face Spain in Davis Cup final
Published on Mon, Sep 22, 2008 at 23:00, Updated on Mon, Sep 22, 2008 at 23:09 in Sports section
Tags: Tennis, Davis Cup , Buenos Aires
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Buenos Aires: Argentina will host the Davis Cup final against Spain in November after Juan Martin del Potro dismantled Igor Andreev in straight sets to beat Russia on Sunday.
Del Potro, who turns 20 on Tuesday, defeated Andreev 6-4, 6-2, 6-1 in the decisive fifth and final match of the semi-final.
In the first reverse singles, top Russian Nikolay Davydenko evened the tie at 2-2 when he beat Argentina's No. 1 David Nalbandian 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (2), 6-0.
It will be Argentina's third appearance in the Davis Cup final, and its first as host. In 2006, Argentina lost to Russia and in 1981 the team fell to the US
Spain beat defending champion the United States 4-1 in their semi-final in Madrid.
Argentina captain Alberto Mancini said the win was a "dream ending," adding that he and the players agreed that facing Spain on an indoor hard-court would give them the greatest advantage over the clay-savvy Spaniards.
"That's where we'll have a chance," Mancini said.
Del Potro told the roaring crowd at Parque Roca Stadium, where Argentina hasn't lost for 10 years, that "we'll need you more than ever against the Spaniards."
"I was nervous at first but it's easy to play well with all of you here," he said.
Del Potro, who made his Cup debut last year and was playing his first home tie, set the tone in his match when he broke Andreev in the first game. He held serve to take the first set.
Then from 1-2 in the second he won nine games in a row to lead by two sets and 4-0. Andreev finally held, but del Potro broke a sixth time to win the match in 2 hours, 13 minutes.
Andreev said he expected a tough match against del Potro after seeing him beat Davydenko on Friday.
Del Potro had also won four titles this summer, reached the US Open quarter-finals, and won 24 of his last 25 matches.
"He's on a hot streak at the moment," Andreev said, adding the Argentines had a "chance" to beat the Spaniards as long as they don't play on clay.
Russia captain Shamil Tarpischev said in jest the only tactic to defeat the dominant del Potro would have been to get him away from the boisterous and intimidating support of the Argentine fans.
"We should have played in Moscow," Tarpischev quipped.
Del Potro wasn't expected to be the team's hero. Nalbandian was favoured to seal the result in Sunday's first singles, but he suffered his first singles loss at home and on clay since his 2002 Davis Cup debut.
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