Spain seal Davis Cup triumph

Spain overcame the absence of world number one Rafael Nadal to win the Davis Cup for the third time when Fernando Verdasco beat Jose Acasuso to give them a 3-1 win over Argentina in the final.

Verdasco, brought in to replace Spain's off-form number one David Ferrer, won 6-3 6-7 4-6 6-3 6-1 to hand Argentina their third defeat in three final appearances and their first home loss for 10 years.

Verdasco had himself been overlooked for Friday's opening singles but earned himself a chance by winning Saturday's doubles alongside Feliciano Lopez.

Acasuso, ranked 48th, was thrown into the fray after Argentina's number one Juan Martin del Potro was ruled out with a pulled muscle in his right leg which he suffered in Friday's defeat to Lopez.

"It's a dream. I've wanted this chance since I was a boy, few get it and even fewer take it," said an elated Verdasco.

Argentina, whose unbeaten home run stretched back 13 matches, had begun as firm favorites but their chances nose-dived when Del Potro was surprisingly beaten by Lopez on Friday and injured his leg in the process.

A win in Saturday's doubles then put the visitors in the driving seat and the news that Del Potro would not play on Sunday was another blow.

The ITF said the dead fifth rubber would not be played.

Acasuso started nervously and lost his serve in the fifth game after three unforced errors in quick succession.

The Argentine had his first break point in the ninth game but Verdasco saved it and took the set when Acasuso overhit two shots in a row.

Acasuso made a confident start to the second set and broke serve in the second game, helped by two double faults from his opponent.

After three breaks of serve in a row between the seventh and ninth games, the set went to a tiebreak but Acasuso always had his nose in front and levelled the match when Verdasco ended a long rally by sending a backhand into the net.

Acasuso was by now playing some excellent tennis, producing a brilliant drive from the back of the court from a Verdasco smash and an inspired crosscourt shot as he broke twice in a row at the start of the third set.

Verdasco replied with a break of his own in between and levelled the set in the eighth game when Acasuso sent an easy volley into the net and followed it with a smash.

But the Argentine broke back in the ninth game and wrapped up the set when Verdasco, having saved two set points, hit the ball out after a long rally.

At this point, it looked as if Acasuso could take the tie to a decisive rubber involving Nalbandian which would have left the hosts as favourites.

Instead, Acasuso went to pieces after Verdasco broke in the sixth game of the fourth set to level the match.

With his opponent looking tired and demoralised, Verdasco strolled through the final set, wrapping up the match with a rasping forehand down the line.

"In the Davis Cup, you have to fight to the death and you always have to keep your hope of winning. This mental strength helped me win the match," Verdasco said.

Spain win doubles to take lead

Fernando Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez beat Argentina's David Nalbandian and Agustin Calleri to give Spain a 2-1 lead in the Davis Cup final.

Nalbandian and Calleri took the first set before the visitors hit back for a 5-7 7-5 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 win in three hours 19 minutes.

The match hinged on a dramatic third set where Spain raced to a 5-1 lead but Argentina hit back to force a tie-break.

The hosts then led 5-1 in the tiebreak before the Spanish won six points in a row to take the set.

"It was tough to go 5-1 up and then go to a tiebreak, it was tough mentally but that was the key," said Verdasco. "After that we played better and much looser."

Lopez added: "It was unforgettable to play with the crowd singing like this. Even though they were supporting Argentina, it was very enjoyable to play in."

Argentina took the first set after Verdasco dropped his serve in the 11th game, the Spaniard appearing to be distracted by hissing in the crowd.

But Verdasco found his confidence in the second and the Argentine pair struggled with his powerful shots from the baseline.

The second set went with serve until the 12th game when Nalbandian was broken following two mistakes by Calleri, who sent a smash into the net and over-hit a volley in successive points to hand Spain the set.

The third set was a see-saw affair as Spain raced to a 5-1 lead, Nalbandian losing another serve in the process.

Argentina saved a set point in the seventh game then went on to break Verdasco's serve helped by a delightful lob by Nalbandian and a double fault from the Spaniard.

That revitalised the hosts and they hit back to level 5-5 and send the set to a tie-break.

With the crowd in full voice, Argentina raced to a 5-1 lead in the tiebreak only to lose concentration after Calleri was distracted by a fan shouting as he was about to serve.

Both sets of players appealed for calm as match officials lost control of the situation and when play re-started, Spain reeled off four points in a row.

Lopez then gave Spain set point with a superb lob from the baseline before the error-prone Calleri hit a service return into the net.

Spain took advantage of an increasingly error-prone Calleri to break service twice in a row in the fourth set and wrap up the match.

The Spanish need to win one of Sunday's two singles matches to clinch the title for the first time since 2004.

Nalbandian signs up for doubles

David Nalbandian will partner Agustin Calleri in today's crucial Davis Cup final doubles rubber in Mar del Plata with the tie currently level 1-1.

The Argentine number one had not initially been selected to play but made himself available after cruising past David Ferrer 6-3 6-2 6-3 in the opening singles match.

Jose Acasuso was originally meant to partner Calleri but he will now have to sit out, while Fernando Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez will go for Spain.

"It was a relatively short (singles) match. I'll be ready (for the doubles). I feel good," said Nalbandian after beating Ferrer.

Nalbandian has a 10-4 doubles record in Davis Cup play, and is 2-1 with Calleri, though they haven't played together since the 2006 final loss to Russia.

Spain captain Emilio Sanchez Vicario has decided to keep Lopez in his line-up despite the fact that Lopez needed over three hours to defeat Juan Martin del Potro in the second singles yesterday.

Meanwhile. Del Potro picked up a thigh injury in that match and is now a doubt for Sunday's deciding singles.

Comeback king Lopez levels Davis Cup final

Feliciano Lopez, who had been handed the awesome task of replacing injured world number one Rafael Nadal, stormed to Spain's rescue when he leveled 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 (6ft 6in) giant Del Potro, the world number nine, who ended the match with a crippling groin injury which could rule him out of Sunday's reverse singles.

Del Potro, who had secured Argentina's final place with a live fifth rubber win over Igor Andreev in September's semi-final 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 to go 2-4 down in the fourth set and he never recovered with Lopez taking the match after 3hrs 20mins 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 focussed and I was the better player. I found a way to play my best. I think I will be fine for the doubles (he will partner Fernando Verdasco against Jose Acasuso and Agustin Calleri)."

Earlier, Nalbandian had little trouble seeing off the highly-strung Ferrer to give Argentina a boost in their bid to win a first ever 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."

Nalbandian also praised the crowd who weren't required to hit full fever pitch with their man in total control of proceedings.

"They were fairly calm but when we need more support we will get it."

Argentina lost both of their previous Davis Cup final appearances - in 1981 against the USA and 2006 to Russia.

The South Americans have won their last 13 home ties in the competition with their last defeat coming in 1998 against Slovakia.

Spain are appearing in their sixth Davis Cup final having won the title twice, beating Australia in 2000 and the United States in 2004.

"I didn't think it would be so easy for him," admitted Ferrer. "We have always had close matches in the past. He was playing at a really high level.

"We have already talked about Nadal not being here. We miss him but we have to make do with what we've got."

Nalbandian gives Argentina lead in Davis Cup final

David Nalbandian put Argentina on the road to a first Davis Cup title on Friday when he breezed past David Ferrer 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 in the opening singles rubber of the final against Spain.

Nalbandian, who skipped the end-of-season Masters Cup in China to concentrate on his country's attempts to capture an elusive Davis Cup title, was rarely in trouble against the highly-strung Ferrer, who is carrying his team's hopes in the injury-enforced absence of world number one Rafael Nadal.

"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.

"It was a short match (just over two hours) so that's good for the rest of the weekend."

Nalbandian also praised the 11,000 crowd at the Estadio Islas Malvinas who weren't needed to hit full fever pitch with their man in total control of proceedings.

"They were fairly calm but when we need more support we will get it."

Later Friday, Argentine number one Juan Martin del Potro was facing Feliciano Lopez as the home side look to erase the misery of having lost both of their previous Davis Cup final appearances - in 1981 against the USA and 2006 to Russia.

The South Americans have won their last 13 home ties in the competition with their last defeat coming in 1998 against Slovakia.

Spain are appearing in their sixth Davis Cup final having won the title twice, beating Australia in 2000 and the United States in 2004.

"I didn't think it would be so easy for him," admitted Ferrer. "We have always had close matches in the past. He was playing at a really high level.

"We have already talked about Nadal not being here. We miss him but we have to make do with what we've got."

Nalbandian, the 26-year-old world number 11, has only lost one rubber in the tournament on home soil and that record was never in danger against Ferrer.

Nalbandian won three games in a row to go a break up at 3-1 in the opening set before grabbing a second break to lead 5-2.

Ferrer had two break points at 15-40 in next game but converted neither. The Spaniard then grabbed another break point which he took to pull back at 3-5.

But he dropped serve for the third time in the next game and Nalbandian gleefully accepted to claim the first set 6-3.

The two players exchanged breaks early in the second set but the muscular Argentinian nipped ahead to go to 4-2 on his way to a two-set lead.

Ferrer, who claimed a gritty five-set battle against Andy Roddick in the semi-final win over the USA in September, slumped 2-4 down in the third set before Nalbanidan went on to secure a well-deserved triumph.

Djokovic wins Masters Cup

Serbia's world number three Novak Djokovic beat Russian Nikolay Davydenko 6-1 7-5 to win the Masters Cup in Shanghai.

The Australian Open champion, who lost all of his matches without winning a set on his debut at the season finale last year, played his best tennis of the week in the final at the Qi Zhong Stadium.

The 21-year-old Djokovic celebrated by kissing the court and tossing his racket and shirt into the crowd after seeing off Davydenko in one hour and 42 minutes.

"I'm very, very happy," he said. "It's a great achievement for me. The best eight players playing here says everything about the quality of the event and I would definitely put it on a level with the Grand Slams."

Djokovic, the first Serb to win the men's year-ending championship, also earned £834,000 to move to within 10 ranking points of world number two Roger Federer, who crashed out at the round-robin stage.

Having been a model of inconsistency in his earlier matches, the black-clad Djokovic played almost perfect tennis on his way to winning the first set in just over half an hour.

World number five Davydenko, who beat Briton Andy Murray to reach his first Masters Cup final, was bludgeoned into submission by the young Serbian's powerful groundstrokes and sizzling winners.

A string of top quality returns allowed him to break Davydenko's first service game and a drop shot followed by an exquisite lob gave him a 5-0 lead and he quickly.

Davydenko finally got on the board in the next game but despite having two break points when the Serbian was serving for the set, Djokovic rallied to take it 6-1.

Even when the hard-working Russian tried to mix it up by coming to the net, Djokovic had an answer for almost everything and it was no great surprise when the 27-year-old started fluffing simple shots.

He saved two match points at 5-3 in the second set and grabbed his first break of the match for 5-5 but Djokovic hit back and wrapped up his fourth title of the season when the Russian netted a service return.

The season-ending championship moves to London next season after four years in the suburbs of China's financial capital.

Davydenko downs Murray to reach final

Nikolay Davydenko reached the final of the Masters Cup in Shanghai with a straightforward 7-5 6-2 victory over world number four Andy Murray.

Russian Davydenko will face world number three Novak Djokovic in Sunday's final, after the Serb beat Gilles Simon 4-6 6-3 7-5.

Both players started tentatively, with Murray in particular looking weary after his epic, three-hour clash against Roger Federer on Friday night, and they traded breaks in the opening two games.

The Scot also faced a break point in his second service game but managed hold when Davydenko hit into the net, after which he quickly settled into his rhythm.

After the initial trade of breaks the set progressed on serve until the 11th game. With Murray serving to go ahead once again, Davydenko made his move, hitting a forehand winner down the line followed by a stunning return of serve to earn a break point.

Murray thought he had hit an ace down the T to save it but Davydenko called on hawkeye to have the call over-ruled and the Scot surrendered his serve on the next point when his inside-out forehand, across court, caught the top of the net and landed wide.

Davydenko fired down his fourth ace of the match to bring up set point in the next game before whipping a forehand winner across court and into the corner to take the first set.

The Russian, who enjoyed a day off on Friday while Murray was playing Federer late into the night, started the second set in much the same fashion as he had finished the first, earning himself a first break point in the fifth game.

To secure the break Davydenko simply wore Murray down, running the Scot ragged around the baseline before dragging him up to the net and drawing the error on the backhand volley.

From there victory was all but assured for Davydenko and he secured a second break in the seventh game, pouncing on a signposted drop shot from Murray and putting the ball away up the line for a winner.

Murray had nothing left in the tank and Davydenko sealed an impressive victory at the first attempt by firing down his sixth ace of the match.

Djokovic books final berth

World number three Novak Djokovic overcame injury and Gilles Simon to book his place in the Masters Cup final with a 4-6 6-3 7-5 victory in Shanghai.

Djokovic, who lost all three of his group stage matches last year, will face either Nikolay Davydenko in Sunday's final after the Russian downed world number four Andy Murray 7-5 6-2 in the day's other semi-final.

"It's a huge success for me to reach the final," said Djokovic.

"It would be great if I can end up with the title. I didn't have such a great last couple of months of the season.

"I had this role of the favorite, and probably it's had some impact on me at the start of the match. I wasn't patient enough and made a lot of unforced errors."

The 21-year-old Serb made a solid start to the match, holding to love before winning the first two points against the Simon serve.

But the Frenchman quickly bounced back and found himself holding an early break point in just the third game, which he grabbed when Djokovic dumped a backhand into the bottom of the net.

One break of serve proved enough for Simon to take the first set and although he held four set points in an epic ninth game, Djokovic saved them all, forcing the Frenchman to serve it out.

Simon quickly set up another chance to take the lead, this time on his own serve, and sealed the first set when Djokovic's ill-advised forehand drop shot landed in the net.

Djokovic again got off to the better start in the second set, holding with ease before earning himself break points in the second game. While Simon managed to save them all, he could do nothing in the fourth game when Djokovic did eventually manage to make his advantage tell.

Again one break of serve was enough to settle the set and Djokovic levelled the match in the ninth game when Simon returned wide of the sidelines.

Simon looked down and out at the start of the third set, being forced to defend break points in the very first game before tamely conceding his serve in the third. But, with the Frenchman facing another three break points, Djokovic pulled up sharply, seemingly suffering from cramp in his left calf.

The Serb immediately lost four straight points to allow Simon to hold but, after an injury time-out, recovered and held to retain his one break advantage.

Djokovic served for the match in the 10th game but gifted Simon a tame break back slapping down a poor double fault.

The Frenchman was unable to take advantage of getting back on level terms though and was immediately broken back leaving Djokovic with a second opportunity to serve out the match.

The Serb made no mistake this time setting up two match points, following up a huge first serve with a supremely confident forehand drive volley which he plucked out of the air and placed in the opposite corner of the court.

Djokovic then booked his spot in the season-ending final with a cheeky drop shot that landed smack on the sideline and beat Simon for pace.