BUENOS AIRES, Argentina(AP) Juan Monaco defeated Thiemo De Bakker 6-1, 6-2, 7-6 (1) to give Argentina a 2-0 lead against the Netherlands in Davis Cup play.
Juan Ignacio Chela needed nearly 4 hours to stop Jesse Huta Galung 6-2, 2-6, 6-2, 6-7 (4), 6-2.
Despite the absence of top players David Nalbandian and Juan Martin Del Potro, Argentina is favored to win the best-of-five series. Nalbandian is sidelined with a viral infection and Del Potro decided to skip the event.
Only about 1,500 attended the usually sold-out 14,000-seat Parque Roca Stadium. Chela needed all of their support in the sapping heat.
``I'm very happy not only because of the win, but also because I think I've left my problems behind me,'' said Chela, whose ranking fell to 159th after a string of injuries.
The winner advances to the Davis Cup quarterfinals against either the Czech Republic or France.