Nalbandian puts Argentina ahead

Argentina took a 1-0 lead in the Davis Cup final against Spain in Mar Del Plata on Friday as David Nalbandian cruised to a straight-sets victory over David Ferrer.

The world number 11 always looked in control as he strolled to a comfortable 6-3 6-2 6-3 win in the opening rubber.

Argentina, gunning for their first Davis Cup triumph, have not lost a home tie since 1998 and they never looked like falling behind as Ferrer had no answer to his opponent's explosive forehand.

Nalbandian broke the Ferrer serve seven times to clinch victory in one hour 59 minutes.

Ferrer was under pressure from the outset and had to save two break points before taking the opening game of the final.

Nalbandian, though, did break in Ferrer's next service game and again to go 5-2 up thanks to two consecutive cross-court forehands which were too hot for the Spaniard to handle.

Ferrer broke straight back, but it was a short-lived reprieve as a third consecutive game went against serve when he went long with a routine forehand to gift Nalbandian the set.

The former Wimbledon finalist produced another monster forehand which clipped the line to break for an early 3-1 lead in the second set and, even though Ferrer broke straight back, the Argentinian rattled off three straight games to take the set.

The home favourite then fought back from 15-40 down at 1-1 in the final set to hold serve and that proved to be the last look-in Ferrer would get as Nalbandian closed out the match.