Argentina reached the Davis Cup final for the second time when victory in the doubles gave them an unassailable 3-0 lead over Australia in Buenos Aires yesterday.

World number four David Nalbandian and Agustin Calleri beat Paul Hanley and Wayne Arthurs 6-4 6-4 7-5 to put the Argentines, losing finalists in 1981, into December's final.

Russia were 2-1 up in the other semi-final in Moscow after twins Bob and Mike Bryan beat Mikhail Youzhny and Dmitry Tursunov 6-3 6-4 6-2.

Nalbandian had given Argentina their first point by beating Mark Philippoussis in the opening singles on Friday and Jose Acasuso finished off a see-saw five-set win over Lleyton Hewitt earlier yesterday.

The second rubber had been suspended due to rain and fading light on Friday evening with Acasuso 4-0 up in the fifth set.

After completing a 1-6 6-4 4-6 6-2 6-1 victory, Acasuso said: "I've beaten higher-ranked players in the past but to win at home in a Davis Cup semi-final with 14,000 people watching me here... makes it one of the most important wins of my career."

In Moscow, the Bryan brothers kept the US in the tie after Andy Roddick had lost to Marat Safin and James Blake had been beaten by Youzhny in Friday's singles.

"We had Andy and James coming up to us, saying 'Get us a chance, just give us another shot'," Mike Bryan said.

In today's singles, Roddick faces Youzhny while Blake takes on Safin.