MAR DEL PLATA, Nov 23: Spain’s Davis Cup captain Emilio Sanchez Vicario accused the Argentine crowd of insulting his players during a stormy doubles rubber on the second day of the 2008 final here on Saturday.

Spain opened up a 2-1 lead in front of 11,000 fans at the Estadio Islas Malvinas when Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco recovered from a set down to beat David Nalbandian and Agustin Calleri with the reverse singles to come on Sunday.

But the match was overshadowed by Sanchez-Vicario’s anger at the crowd with both captains joining match referee Stefan Fransson and umpire Pascal Maria in appealing for calm during a rollercoaster third set when Nalbandian and Calleri pulled back a double break deficit from 1-5 down to force a tiebreak.

Even Nalbandian complained to the umpire when someone screamed at a crucial moment in the third set tiebreak.

“The crowd didn’t behave well today, they were using bad words and insulting us,” said Sanchez Vicario.

“I’m disappointed in the way they behaved but we know now and we’ll be ready for tomorrow.”

Verdasco, who suffered most of the outbursts from the crowd said: “They actually motivated me and allowed me to play better and their strategy totally backfired.”

Calleri said: “This is Davis Cup, this is normal. Maybe they went too far. I don’t think they were insulting Verdasco but I don’t know.”

Ironically, the boot was on the other foot in 2000 when the Australian camp was aggrieved by the overly vociferous backing which Spanish fans gave their team in Barcelona as the Europeans secured their first ever title.—AFP