Argentina's David Nalbandian beat Australia's Mark Philippoussis on Friday in the first game in the semi-finals of the Davis Cup, the men's world team competition, in Argentine capital Buenos Aires's Parque Roca.

Rain stopped the second match in the middle of the fifth set, with Argentina's Jose Acasuso leading former world number one Lleyton Hewitt at four games to zero, and the scoreboard even at two sets each. However, Hewitt was ahead in a tiebreaker when the rainstorm broke.

In a packed stadium of 14,500 spectators, including Argentina's former soccer star Diego Maradona, Argentina, unbeaten at home since 1998, showed why it was the favorite.

Nalbandian, ranked number four, beat 116th-ranked Philippoussis straight sets of 6-4, 6-3 and 6-3, in just under two hours.

Acasuso, ranked 26th, began nervously against Hewitt, ranked 19th, whose famous "Come on" war cry was barely heard. However, the Argentine recovered his poise, and was ahead 1-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2, 4-0 when rain halted play just over three hours into the match, which resumes tomorrow.

On Saturday, doubles pair Nalbandian and Agustin Calleri, both from the Argentine state of Cordoba, will play the Australian pair Wayne Arthurs and Paul Hanley.

The winner will play in the final against the winner between Russia and United States. Russia is currently 2-0 ahead.

(Xinhua News Agency September 23, 2006)