UPDATE 1-Tennis-Spain choose Lopez over Verdasco for Cup singles

By Brian Homewood

MAR DEL PLATA, Argentina, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Spain captain Emilio Sanchez Vicario ignored the world rankings as he chose Feliciano Lopez as his second singles player for the Davis Cup final against Argentina, ahead of Fernando Verdasco.

"It has been difficult to take the decision," Sanchez Vicario, missing world number one Rafael Nadal through injury, told reporters after Thursday's draw for the Nov 21-23 final.

"Fernando is a little bit ahead in the rankings but Feliciano has shown a bit more in training."

The draw pitted Spain's top player David Ferrer, ranked 12, against Argentina's most experienced, David Nalbandian, in the opening rubber on Friday.

Lopez will face ninth-ranked Juan Martin del Potro in the second of the opening singles.

Del Potro meets Ferrer followed by Nalbandian against Lopez in Sunday's reverse singles.

Argentina captain Alberto Mancini provisionally chose Jose Acasuso and Agustin Calleri as his pair for Saturday's doubles while his rival went for a Verdasco-Lopez partnership.

The teams can change their doubles partnerships up to one hour before the start.