Del Potro to lead Argentina’s charge in Seville final

World number 11 Juan Martin del Potro will lead Argentina’s charge as they attempt to land a first ever Davis Cup win at the expense of favourites Spain in next month’s final in Seville, skipper Modesto Vazquez said yesterday.

Vazquez said Del Potro was the first name on his list ahead of Juan Monaco, Juan Ignacio Chela, David Nalbandian, Eduardo Schwank and young left-hander Facundo Bagnis, who is set to feature as a warm-up hitting partner as the South Americans try to make it fifth time lucky in the trophy match.

Del Potro, Nalbandian and Monaco are guaranteed starts fitness permitting, with French Open quarter-finalist Chela and doubles specialist Schwank set to complete the playing quartet.

The Argentina squad will head for Spain on Thursday.

“We know they will start as favourites in Seville,” Vazquez admitted of the Spanish, who feature world number two Rafael Nadal, “the best clay-court player of all time”.

Nadal missed the Spaniards’ win in Mar del Plata in 2008.