Nalbandian levels for Argentina in Davis Cup final

By Alexander Fedorets

TENNIS : Moscow, Dec. 2, (AFP) - David Nalbandian kept Argentina in the chase for their first ever Davis Cup title by beating Russia's Marat Safin in straight sets to level proceedings at 1-1 on Friday.

Nalbandian, 24, came through 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 winner after Nikolay Davydenko had earlier given the hosts the advantage by beating Juan Ignacio Chela 6-1, 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 in the opening rubber.

Former US and Australian Open champion Safin, 26, never succeeded in getting into the match and, showing signs of early nerves, was broken in his opening service game, although he produced 21 aces during their 2hr 26min clash.

"It was a very tough match. It was a three-setter but when he (Safin) served his first serve well sometimes I could do nothing," said Nalbandian, after achieving just his third win over Safin in nine meetings.

"I think I played a very good match. It's very good for me that we played in three sets as I will have to play tomorrow and on Sunday.

But now I feel fresh."

World's number eight Nalbandian started with an immediate break to gain a 2-0 lead, while his opponent looked slightly rusty producing a catalogue of unforced errors.

The Argentine experienced few troubles keeping his advantage to win the set in 45 minutes, and in the second Nalbandian was still in command breaking his 26th-ranked opponent twice.

Safin picked up steam and broke back in the eighth game but Nalbandian nevertheless managed to take the set in 49 minutes to go two sets up.

In the third, Nalbandian broke in the seventh game minutes before he had his supporters on their feet as he sealed victory with an ace.

Earlier, world number three Davydenko, won in 3hr 5min to record his first ever victory over the 27-year-old Chela, who had won all five of their previous meetings. "I played very good in the two opening sets," said Davydenko. "But in the third I felt myself slightly tired and lost concentration allowing him to come back. "In the fourth I played well again and was not worried even when Chela broke back. I'm happy to win today and hope I will not have to play on Sunday."

Davydenko started confidently, breaking his rival's serve early to clinch a comfortable 3-0 lead before Chela chalked up his first point in the match.

The 25-year-old Russian increased his advantage with another break in the sixth game to lift himself one set up in 37 minutes.

No big serves were produced in the second set before the fifth game, when Davydenko added power and precision to his playing to take four consecutive games to clinch a 2-0 lead after one hour 11 minutes on court.

In the third Chela, spurred by a thousand Argentine fans including football idol Diego Maradona, broke to gain a 4-1 advantage but Davydenko broke back in the seventh game to level at four games all. However, Chela managed to reduce the arrears winning the third set in one hour with another break in the 12th game.

In the fourth Davydenko put his feet back to the ground and broke Chela's serve twice to go 4-1 lead before Argentinean broke back to narrow the gap.

But Davydenko managed to hold his lead under the watchful gaze of Russia's first president Boris Yeltsin, sealing his win with a service winner, which Chela sent into the net. "He was just too strong. I was very determined but he had me by the neck from the outset," said Chela.

"Against another player I could have profited from their errors but he's incredible at the moment. I couldn't find an opening the first two sets. "I started to feel more at ease in the third and began to believe in myself. But he's not the world number three for nothing."

Nalbandian and Agustin Calleri are scheduled to play Russia's Mikhail Youzhny and Dmitry Tursunov in Saturday's doubles with the tie set to be settled in Sunday's reverse singles.