MAR DEL PLATA // Juan Martin del Potro will miss the opening reverse singles match of the Davis Cup final for Argentina after failing to recover from a thigh injury. Del Potro is to be replaced by Jose Acasuso in the best-of-five series, which Spain leads 2-1. Acasuso will face Fernando Verdasco, who replaced David Ferrer. Del Potro, Argentina's top-ranked player at No 9 in the world, injured his right thigh in a four-set loss to Feliciano Lopez on Friday.
He was not able to recover in time for Sunday's match despite undergoing intense treatment. Spain lead the final after Lopez and Verdasco defeated David Nalbandian and Agustin Calleri 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (5), 6-3. The result means that Spain, the underdogs going into the final, need just a single victory in today's reverse singles. "This was an important victory, it gives us life," the Spain captain Emilio Sanchez Vicario said. "We need one more game." *AP
