Buenos Aires (Argentina), Sept 13: US Open semifinalist David Nalbandian has insisted that Argentina had enough depth to overcome the absence of the team's top two players in its Davis Cup semifinal against Spain. Nalbandian and Guillermo Coria, ranked fifth in the world, both pulled out of Argentina's team this week because of injuries suffered in the US Open.
At a news conference yesterday, ahead of the Argentine squad's departure to Malaga for next week's best-of-five series, Nalbandian dismissed speculation Argentina's team had been struck a crippling blow.
"Of course the withdrawal of Coria and myself had an impact. But they are a great team and I told them I would join them in the finals," he said.
Spain's national squad features the ATP's top-ranked player, US Open runner-up Juan Carlos Ferrero, and is one of the strongest in years since that country won the Davis Cup in 2000.
But Nalbandian insisted Argentina had sufficient depth as teammates Gaston Gaudio and Agustin Calleri are joined by last-minute substitutes Mariano Zabaleta and Lucas Arnold in the September 19-21 semifinal.
Nalbandian was up two sets against American Andy Roddick in the US Open last weekend before suffering an inflamed left wrist and a pulled abdominal muscle. Roddick went on to win the match and the tournament.

Bureau Report