Argentina scored a 2-1 victory over Italy on Friday, to give the former champions of the ARAG ATP World Team Championship their first win of the week, thus claiming third position in the Red Group.

Jose Acasuso starred for Argentina winning two points to spare the blushes of compatriot David Nalbandian, who suffered his third defeat of the week.

The 23-year-old paired with Sebastian Prieto for a 7-6(3), 6-1 win over Davide Sanguinetti and Filippo Volandri for a deciding point.

Earlier on Thursday Acasuso won his 18th clay-court match of the season, beating tour veteran Sanguinetti 6-2, 6-0.

“I am very happy with my performance here in this event because I won all my three matches, proving my good level,” said 23-year-old Acasuso, who won the ATP singles title in Vina del Mar in February.

“I am now looking forward optimistically to the French Open. However, we wanted to win the team title here, which unfortunately we failed to achieve.”

Nalbandian, meanwhile, was unable to make it 2-0 Argentina, as Filippo Volandri frustrated the reigning Tennis Masters Cup champion in damp conditions at the Rochusclub.

Volandri recorded his first victory of the week - l. Kiefer (GER) and l. Berdych (CZE) – upsetting the Estoril Open champion 6-4 7-5 in two hours and 20 minutes.

Volandri, who reached the Buenos Aires final in February (l. Moya), has a 17-15 match record in 2006.