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| Davydenko to open Davis Cup final | Davydenko to open Davis Cup final |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Russia's Nikolay Davydenko will take on Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina in the opening rubber of the Davis Cup final in Moscow on Friday. | Russia's Nikolay Davydenko will take on Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina in the opening rubber of the Davis Cup final in Moscow on Friday. |
| The home side will then pin their hopes on former world number one Marat Safin against David Nalbandian in the second of the opening day's singles matches. | The home side will then pin their hopes on former world number one Marat Safin against David Nalbandian in the second of the opening day's singles matches. |
| Mikahil Youzhny and Dmitry Tursunov will play Nalbandian and Agustin Calleri in Saturday's doubles. | Mikahil Youzhny and Dmitry Tursunov will play Nalbandian and Agustin Calleri in Saturday's doubles. |
| The tie takes place on a fast carpet surface at the Olympic Sports Complex. | The tie takes place on a fast carpet surface at the Olympic Sports Complex. |
| Neither Acasuso nor Calleri would have any chance of beating me on any surface Nikolay Davydenko | |
| Sunday's potentially decisive reverse singles should see Davydenko up against Nalbandian, and Safin taking on Chela. | Sunday's potentially decisive reverse singles should see Davydenko up against Nalbandian, and Safin taking on Chela. |
| Davydenko will be expected to win his opener on current form but he has an 0-5 record against Chela. | |
| "I'm not surprised they put Chela against me because neither Acasuso nor (Jose) Calleri would have any chance of beating me on any surface," said the Russian. | |
| Russia captain Shamil Tarpishchev said: "We knew that Chela was one of their options, so it was not totally unexpected." | |
| Chela said: "I'm very confident and ready to fight tomorrow and win. Davydenko likes to play short points. I like to change rhythm and that's what bothers him." | |
| 606 DEBATE: Who will win in Moscow? | 606 DEBATE: Who will win in Moscow? |
| Nalbandian, who defeated Safin in the Madrid Masters quarter-finals last month, said: "Marat is a great player but I'm not afraid of him. I beat him the last time we played." | |
| Russia are playing in the Davis Cup final for the first time since beating France to win the 2002 title. | Russia are playing in the Davis Cup final for the first time since beating France to win the 2002 title. |
| Argentina, who lost to the United States in the 1981 final, are making only their second appearance. | Argentina, who lost to the United States in the 1981 final, are making only their second appearance. |
| They will be boosted by support from Argentine football legend Diego Maradona, who is expected in Moscow for the final. | |
| Friday (starting 1000 GMT):Nikolay Davydenko (Rus) v Juan Ignacio Chela (Arg)Marat Safin (Rus) v David Nalbandian (Arg) | Friday (starting 1000 GMT):Nikolay Davydenko (Rus) v Juan Ignacio Chela (Arg)Marat Safin (Rus) v David Nalbandian (Arg) |
| Saturday (1100GMT):Mikahil Youzhny/Dmitry Tursunov (Rus) v David Nalbandian/Agustin Calleri (Arg) | Saturday (1100GMT):Mikahil Youzhny/Dmitry Tursunov (Rus) v David Nalbandian/Agustin Calleri (Arg) |
| Sunday (1000 GMT):Nikolay Davydenko (Rus) v David Nalbandian (Arg)Marat Safin (Rus) v Juan Ignacio Chela (Arg) | Sunday (1000 GMT):Nikolay Davydenko (Rus) v David Nalbandian (Arg)Marat Safin (Rus) v Juan Ignacio Chela (Arg) |