Ferrer beats del Potro to hand Spain Davis Cup lead

SEVILLE, Spain: Ironman David Ferrer beat Juan Martin del Potro 6-2, 6-7 (2/7), 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 on Friday to hand Spain a 2-0 lead over Argentina in the Davis Cup final and inch them closer to a fifth title.

Ferrer needed four hours and 44 minutes to see off the battling del Potro after Rafael Nadal had earlier cruised to his 19th win in 20 rubbers in the competition with a 6-1, 6-1, 6-2 win over close friend Juan Monaco.

Spain can wrap up the title if Fernando Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez see off David Nalbandian and Eduardo Schwank in Saturday's doubles, which would leave Argentina still searching for a first Davis Cup crown.

The Spanish number two, who made the semi-finals at the ATP World Tour Finals last week in London, had looked down and out against a free-hitting del Potro in the second and third sets in front of a raucous 28,000-strong crowd at the Estadio Olimpico.

But the big Argentine gradually wilted, slipping 5-1 down in the decider.

He managed to retrieve a break and hold to put the pressure back on Ferrer, but the Spaniard held his nerve to wrap up the rubber with a sweeping winner.

Sadly for Argentina, history will not be on their side on Saturday -- the last team to recover from a 2-0 deficit in the final was Australia in 1939. (AFP)