Cilic, Nalbandian get heavy Davis Cup duty

BUENOS AIRES, April 5 (UPI) -- Croat Marin Cilic and Argentine David Nalbandian have both been given three matches in their upcoming best-of-five Davis Cup quarterfinals.

Cilic and Nalbandian are to open the series Friday with a singles match and have been penciled in as members of their countries' doubles teams, which play Saturday.

Nalbandian was given the assignment in the second singles match Sunday, a match that could decide the series.

The Croatian team has traveled to Buenos Aires for the series, which will be played on an outdoor red clay court. They are playing for a chance to meet either the Czech Republic of Serbia in the Davis Cup semifinals Sept. 14-16.

Argentina has won both times the teams met previously in Davis Cup play but both series were 3-2. Nalbandian won two points in the countries' 2006 series.

Nalbandian takes a 4-0 lifetime record versus Cilic into Friday's match. World No. 10 Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro goes against Ivo Karlovic in the second singles match.

Nalbandian is to team with Eduardo Schwank for the doubles match against Cilic and Lovro Zovko. Cilic and del Potro are to open Sunday's play with Karlovic and Nalbandian scheduled for the fifth match of the series.