Feliciano Lopez defeated Juan Martin del Potro 4-6, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (4), 6-3 allowing Spain to escape the first day of the Davis Cup final against Argentina tied 1-1.

Argentina's David Nalbandian had easily defeated David Ferrer 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 in the opening match yesterday.

Without the injured top-ranked Rafael Nadal, Lopez's win against Argentina's best-ranked player was crucial to keep the Spaniards' hopes alive of winning their third title.

The 31st-ranked Lopez broke ninth-ranked del Potro twice in the fourth set to close the match, delighting the small group of Spanish fans at Isla Malvinas Stadium.

David Nalbandian defeated Spain's David Ferrer 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 in the opening singles match of the Davis Cup final.

Boosted by a boisterous crowd of about 10,000 fans at the Islas Malvinas Stadium in the coastal city of Mar del Plata, the 11th-ranked Nalbandian dominated the match from the beginning, breaking Ferrer's service seven times. He closed the match by winning four of the last five games, clinching with an ace after 1 hour, 59 minutes.

Nalbandian had 54 winners and only 27 unforced errors on his way to victory, allowing only two breaks to Ferrer.

"I played a great match," Nalbandian said. "I couldn't have played it any better. It was good to win it fast. I was always ahead, that gave me tranquility."

The Argentine got off to a fast start, breaking Ferrer in the third and seventh games to jump to a 5-2 lead. Ferrer responded with a break of his own to make it 5-3, but Nalbandian rebounded right away to secure the first set 6-3 after Ferrer's forehand went long.

Nalbandian kept the pace in the second set, breaking Ferrer three times, including in the final game after Ferrer missed wide on a crosscourt forehand.

In the final set, the Argentine broke Ferrer in the fourth game, cruising to victory with three aces in the last game to improve his career record against the 12th-ranked Ferrer to 4-6.

Spain is hoping to win its third title after home victories in 2000 and 2004. The Spaniards finished second in three other occasions _ 1965, 1967 and 2003.

This is the third meeting between Argentina and Spain, with Spain winning the previous two on clay court in 1926 and 2003.

In the doubles today, Lopez will pair with Fernando Verdasco against Jose Acasuso and Agustin Calleri.