Lopez keeps feet on the ground

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:10

The 27-year-old, who on Friday came from a set down to see off home favourite Juan Martin del Potro in four sets, linked up with Fernando Verdasco and pulled off the same trick in Saturday’s doubles rubber in Mar Del Plata.

The pair battled back to prevail 5-7 7-5 7-6 (7/5) 6-3 against David Nalbandian and Agustin Calleri to gain the upper hand heading into Sunday’s reverse singles.

But Lopez later warned: “We’re ahead but there’s a long way to go yet. I wasn’t expecting to win Friday and Saturday. Really being 2-1 ahead with one day to go is a dream.”

The first set of Saturday’s doubles rubber went with serve until the 11th game, when Argentina capitalised on some nervy serving by Verdasco and forged what proved to be a set-winning advantage.

The second set was an equally tight affair, with no break of serve until the 12th game when Nalbandian slipped up to allow Spain to clinch it 7-5 and move level.

Spain then looked to be moving into another gear when two breaks saw them establish a 5-1 cushion in the third.

Argentina fought back to 6-6 and then to 5-2 up in the tie-break, but it proved to be in vain as the visitors won five straight points to take the set.

Again, Spain looked to have the fourth set sewn up at 5-2 to the good, but again Argentina threatened to get back into it by breaking the Verdasco serve.

It was not enough, however, as the Spanish duo broke back immediately on the Nalbandian serve to end a thrilling encounter.

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