Davis Cup: Russia win doubles

Marat Safin [Images] and Dmitry Tursunov [Images] hammered David Nalbandian and Agustin Calleri 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 in the doubles on Saturday to give Russia [Images] a 2-1 lead against Argentina in the Davis Cup final in Moscow [Images].

Nalbandian, who played superb tennis when he thrashed Safin in straight sets in Friday's singles, looked a shadow of his former self just 20 hours later.

Asked why he had had a poor match, the Argentine number one said: "I didn't feel as good as yesterday but that's sport."

The Russians broke Nalbandian in the fourth game, then again to love in the sixth to secure the first set.

In the second, the world number eight lost his serve to love once more in the third game as the home team took a two-set lead.

The Russians broke Calleri's serve in the opening game of the third set on their way to clinching a surprisingly one-sided victory after one hour 38 minutes.

"Breaking their serve early was the key to winning the match," said Safin, who had complained that he disliked the fast indoor surface at Moscow's Olympic arena after his defeat on Friday.

"After we took a lead it was difficult for them to make a comeback. It put extra pressure on them."

Tursunov added: "We tried to play simple tennis, not to create something we can't do."

Asked to describe Safin's performance on Saturday, Nalbandian said: "He played very well, he also served well. Actually both of them [Russians] played very good."

Former world number one Safin had replaced Mikhail Youzhny in Russia's line-up before the match because the 2002 Davis Cup hero apparently had not fully recovered from a serious ankle injury he sustained four weeks ago.

On Friday, Russian number one Nikolay Davydenko beat Juan Ignacio Chela in the opening rubber before Nalbandian levelled the score by crushing Safin.

Russia, undefeated at home since the 1995 final, are now clear favourites to win their second Davis Cup title, following their triumph in 2002.

Their captain Alberto Mancini refused to accept that they might be heading for another defeat.

"Obviously, we're disappointed to be 1-2 down but there will be two tough matches tomorrow and we feel we still have a chance," he said.

Davydenko is scheduled to face Nalbandian in the first reverse singles on Sunday followed by Safin playing Chela in the last rubber.

© Copyright 2008 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.