Koubek and Acasuso open Austria-Argentina tie

LINZ, Austria, Feb 8 (Reuters) Stefan Koubek and Jose Acasuso will open the Davis Cup first round duel between Austria and 2006 finalists Argentina tomorrow.

Jurgen Melzer faces Guillermo Canas in the second singles at the Intersport-Arena, following today's draw in Linz's Sky Garden Passage.

Acasuso will team up with Sebastian Prieto to face Austrian pair Melzer and Julian Knowle in Saturday's doubles.

Melzer faces Acasuso in the first reverse singles on Sunday with Canas meeting Koubek in the final rubber.

Argentina's captain Alberto Mancini has had to make do without David Nalbandian, Agustin Calleri and Juan Ignacio Chela, who took part in the final in December, losing 3-2 to Russia in Moscow.

''Acasuso and Canas are very experienced, so I am sure they will do a good job,'' Mancini said. Canas is a former top 10 player who began his comeback late last year from a 15-month suspension for doping.

Austria's captain Gilbert Schaller was not surprised. ''We expected Mancini to pick these two, so we are very well prepared and ready to eliminate them.'' Koubek defeated Acasuso at Wimbledon in 2004 in four sets, but Canas leads Koubek 3-0 in head-to-head meetings on the ATP Tour.

Melzer has lost his only match against Acasuso and has never played Canas.

This is the first meeting between these two nations despite boasting long Davis Cup histories. Austria first competed in 1905, while twice finalists Argentina made their debut in 1921.

REUTERS SAM PM1809