Spain’s Feliciano Lopez celebrates after scoring a point during his Davis Cup singles match against Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro on Friday. Associated Press Photo.

MAR DEL PLATA, Argentina — Feliciano Lopez upset Juan Martin del Potro 4-6, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (4), 6-3 Friday, allowing Spain to escape the first day of the Davis Cup final tied 1-1 with Argentina.

David Nalbandian brushed aside David Ferrer 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 in the opening singles, and del Potro was expected to comfortably handle Lopez on his favored hard court.

But Lopez took the two tiebreakers, and del Potro injured his right thigh in the sixth game of the fourth set. After treatment, he lost his serve and Lopez cruised to victory in 3 hours, 19 minutes, hushing the boisterous crowd of about 10,000 at Islas Malvinas Stadium.

Del Potro’s injury and his defeat suddenly made today’s doubles even more crucial for Argentina, a heavy favorite to win its first Davis Cup, and unbeaten at home for 10 years. Spain is looking to add to its home victories in 2000 and 2004.

David Nalbandian was picked to join Agustin Calleri against the experienced Spanish pair of Lopez and Fernando Verdasco.

Del Potro is scheduled to open the reverse singles Sunday against Ferrer, depending on the seriousness of his thigh injury.

Spain was playing without top-ranked Rafael Nadal, who has knee tendinitis. Captain Sanchez Vicario replaced him with 56th-ranked Marcel Granollers.

BASEBALL

Miami closer to getting new stadium

MIAMI — A key legal obstacle was removed Friday for a new downtown Florida Marlins stadium, and the team will now determine whether the ballpark can open for the 2011 season.

Marlins president David Samson said the months of delay caused by a lawsuit challenging the ballpark’s financing package might push the completion date to 2012.

Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Jeri Beth Cohen issued formal, final orders ending a lawsuit filed by auto dealer Norman Braman against the proposal for several huge projects, including a 37,000-seat, retractable-roof stadium. Estimated to cost $515 million, the ballpark is to rise on the site of the now-demolished Orange Bowl in Little Havana.

The legal fight may yet continue, but Braman will have to persuade an appeals court that Cohen was wrong to rule against him on all counts.

The stadium is a major piece of a $3 billion public works package that includes a tunnel for the Port of Miami, a museums park and a downtown trolley line.

Braman, a philanthropist, art collector and former owner of the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles, argued the project financing was an unconstitutional diversion of money intended to cure urban blight and should have been submitted to voters for approval.

Raines to manage team

NEWARK, N.J. — Former major league All-Star Tim Raines signed a two-year contract to manage the Newark Bears of the Atlantic League.

Raines joins the Bears from the Class AA Harrisburg Senators, where he was a hitting coach last season. Previously, he was a coach for the Chicago White Sox from 2004 to 2006, serving as first base coach during their 2005 World Series Championship season.

 Raines began his coaching career in 2003 as manager of the Brevard County Manatees, a Class A affiliate of the Expos.

A seven-time All-Star, Raines was one of baseball’s top leadoff hitters and base stealers while playing for six teams from 1979 to 2002.

The switch-hitting outfielder hit .294 with 170 home runs, 2,605 hits, 808 stolen bases and an on-base percentage of .385. He won a batting title, and led the league in stolen bases three times and runs scored twice.