Nalbandian-Ferrer match to start Davis Cup

MAR DEL PLATA, Spain, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- World No. 11 David Nalbandian gets the call for the first match for the host Argentinians against Spain's David Ferrer in this weekend's Davis Cup final.

The Nalbandian-Ferrer match to kickoff the best-of-five Davis Cup title series was announced Thursday. Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro goes against Spain's Feliciano Lopez in the other singles match Friday.

Ferrer is 6-3 in his career against Nalbandian while del Potro won two of his three meetings with Lopez.

In a doubles match Saturday, Spain's Lopez and Fernando Verdasco are to face the host country's Jose Acasuso and Agustin Calleri. Sunday's schedule calls for reverse singles with Nalbandian going against Lopez and del Potro playing Ferrer.

Also available for the Spanish team is Marcel Granollers, tapped by captain Emilio Sanchez when world No. 1 Rafael Nadal withdrew because of a knee injury.

Argentina, which is 13-0 when it is the host of a Davis Cup series, opted for an indoor hard court. The Spanish team is known to favor a clay court. A win this weekend would mark the first Davis Cup title for Argentina. The Spaniards, who won in 2000 and 2004, are looking for their third championship.