Virus rules Nalbandian out of Davis Cup tie

World number 14 David Nalbandian has been ruled out of Argentina's Davis Cup first-round tie against the Netherlands here with a virus, team captain Modesto Vasquez announced on Tuesday.

"Nalbandian won't participate in the match against the Netherlands," Vasquez said. "He trained on Monday but he's still suffering from a virus which means he isn't in the right condition to play."

'King David', as he's known in his home country, was the figurehead of an Argentine team also containing Juan Monaco, Juan Ignacio Chela and doubles specialist Lucas Arnold Ker. They play the Netherlands at the Parque Roca claycourt arena between Friday and Sunday.

Nalbandian's possible replacements include world number seven Juan Martin del Potro, Jose Acasuso, ranked 45th in the world, and world number 50 Martin Vassallo Arguello.

Argentina lost last year's Davis Cup final to Spain on home soil in November, their third defeat in the final after a 2006 loss to Russia and their defeat in 1981 by the United States.









Children play on top of rocky desert cliffs at sunset. AP Photo/Hasan Jamali