Spain captain Sanchez puts faith in Lopez

Feliciano Lopez

A-Z guide to the Davis Cup final

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Spaniard Feliciano Lopez is in for a busy weekend after Emilio Sanchez chose the world No.31 over team-mate Fernando Verdasco to fill his team’s No.2 spot for this weekend’s Argentina-Spain Davis Cup final.

A-Z guide to the Davis Cup final

Speculation surrounding which of the two players would fill Spain’s No.2 spot had rumbled on all week but Sanchez’s decision was revealed at Thursday’s draw.

“It has been difficult to take the decision,” Sanchez said. “Fernando is a little bit ahead in the rankings but Feliciano has shown a bit more in training.”

World No.12 David Ferrer will lead the Spanish challenge and will open the Mar del Plata tie when he takes on Argentina’s No.2 player David Nalbandian in Friday’s opening singles.

“It’s all the same, whether I play first or second, there’s no problem,” Nalbandian said.

“Ferrer is a very complete player, he doesn’t have a stroke which stands out as his best, he’s very solid on the baseline and he fights for every point. I’m going to have to play well to beat him.”

Lopez will then face Argentine No.1 Juan Martin Del Potro in the second rubber of the three-day tie and will be back on court 24 hours later when he teams up with Verdasco for Saturday’s doubles against Jose Acasuso and Agustin Calleri.

The tie will be concluded with another two singles when Ferrer faces Del Potro in Sunday’s opening match before Nalbandian goes face to face with Lopez.

Argentina are hot favourites to win their first Davis Cup title and will be cheered on by 11,000-plus fans at the Estadio Islas Malvinas.

The hosts will be hoping to continue their staggering record of being undefeated on home soil since 1998. Play begins at 1pm on Friday.