Mar del Plata, Argentina  - David Nalbandian kick-started what the hosts were hoping would be a dream weekend for Argentine as he produced a resounding 6-3,
6-2, 6-3 opening defeat of David Ferrer to open the Davis Cup final on Friday.

Spain's Ferrer had no answer for the South American playing in front of a fervent home crowd as Argentina bid for a first Davis Cup title after losing in two previous finals.

"I played a great match and we got the first point of the weekend," said Nalbandian after the victory lasting a shade under two hours. "I hope it can continue like this.

"It was a quick match played at a high level. I'm ready to play doubles tomorrow if the captain needs me."

Trailing 1-0, Spanish coach Emilio Sanchez Vicario was praying that his strategy of putting Feliciano Lopez into the second singles spot would pay dividends later.

The visitors were facing another stern test on indoor hardcourt as Argentine wonder boy Juan Del Potro, 20, faced Lopez in the day's second rubber.

"Del Potro was nervous this morning," Nalbandian aid of his teammate playing for the first time in the final. "But this win takes some of the pressure off of him."

Argentina are desperate to become third time lucky in a Davis final after losing to the US in 1981 and in 2006 to Russia in Moscow.

The hosts have not been beaten in their last 13 home ties.

The winning odds also lie with the home nation: in 105 finals, the hosts have won 71 times. The only time in the past six editions that the visitors have triumphed was in 2005 Croatia defeated Slovakia in Bratislava.

Nalbandian raced away against an off-the-boil Ferrer, whose poor form form the last ATP season continued unabated.

The Argentine broke twice in the opening set, lost one of them but re-broke in the final game to start the momentum rolling.

The 11th-ranked Nalbandian then dominated in the second and rode a break for 4-2 in the third to put his nation into a solid lead. He reached three match points with his seventh ace and converted on the first.

Spain is missing the injured Rafael Nadal, nursing a sore knee. (dpa)