Great Britain's Davis Cup quarter-final hopes are over after Argentina took an unassailable lead in the World Group tie by winning yesterday's doubles in Buenos Aires.
Trailing 2-0 after day one, Jamie Murray and Ross Hutchins were given the task of keeping the visitors' hopes alive against David Nalbandian and Jose Acasuso, who won 6-2, 7-6 (13-11), 6-0.
The only real drama came in the second set. The Argentines took an early lead but Britain broke back and forced a tiebreak. That followed the pattern of the set with Nalbandian and Acasuso moving to 6-4 only for Murray and Hutchins to level.
The Brits created three set points but could not take them and the hosts clinched the set when Hutchins fluffed a volley.
After a 40-minute rain delay, Argentina quickly wrapped up the win.
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JONATHAN PEARCE
ALEC STEWART
THE MOLE