Sat Feb 9 21:36:04 2008

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Argentina, Spain reach Davis Cup QFs

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Buenos Aires, Argentina (Sports Network) - A doubles team of David Nalbandian and Jose Acasuso propelled Argentina into the 2008 Davis Cup quarterfinals on Saturday. The Nalbandian-Acasuso win gave the host Argentines an unassailable 3-0 lead over visiting Great Britain in their best-of-five opening-round tie.

Nalbandian and Acasuso drove past a British tandem of Ross Hutchins and Jamie Murray 6-2, 7-6 (13-11), 6-0, in a rubber that was briefly interrupted by rain in the third set.

On Friday, Argentina got easy straight-set opening singles victories from the former Masters Cup champion and Wimbledon runner-up Nalbandian and Agustin Calleri on the Argentines' beloved red clay, at Estadio Parque Roca.

Argentina, captained by Alberto Mancini, will meet the Israel-Sweden victor in April's quarterfinals. Israel leads their best-of-five tie, 2-1, after the Israeli doubles team of Andy Ram and Jonathan Erlich beat Simon Aspelin and Robert Lindstedt, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3), 7-5 on Saturday.

Elsewhere in South America, Spain clinched a quarterfinal berth with an insurmountable 3-0 lead on host Peru in their best-of-five Davis Cup opener. The Spaniards got a pair of opening singles wins from Nicolas Almagro and Tommy Robredo in Lima on Friday, when the Peruvians played without their best player, Luis Horna, who decided not to perform due to a right forearm strain.

Saturday's doubles rubber in Lima then pitted the Spanish duo of Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco against Ivan Miranda and Horna, both of whom were battling injuries.

Lopez and Verdasco easily prevailed with a straight-set victory 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4).

Spain has earned its place in the World Group quarterfinals and will move on to face the Germany-Korea victor in April.