Intro:

Argentina and Italy shared the spoils on the first day of their Davis Cup World Group first round tie in Mar del Plata on Friday.

Script:

Argentina and Italy could not be separated after day one of their Davis Cup World Group match in Mar del Plata

The home support would not have liked how the day started as Argentina's Carlos Berlocq went 4 love down in his first set against Andreas Seppi.

The Italian went on to win the set 6-4 but Berlocq, who is nicknamed the gladiator, fought back in style.

He took the next set 6 love and the third 6-2.

Berlocq won the next 6-1 to wrap up the win in two-and-a-half hours.

That delighted the home support but their joy would not last long.

Italy's Fabio Fognini levelled the match with his first ever win against Juan Monaco.

This ace won the first set 7-5. And Fognini was two up with a 6-2 win in the next.

It would become an emphatic straight sets victory for the Italian. How Argentina may miss Juan Martin del Potro, who has chosen not to play to focus on tour events.