Mar del Plata (Argentina), Jan 31 (IANS): Carlos Berlocq and Andreas Seppi will open the Argentina vs Italy Davis Cup tie as part of the first round of the World Group.

The match between Berlocq and Seppi will be held Friday on the clay court of the Municipal Skating Rink while the second singles match will be played later between Argentine Juan Monaco and Italian Fabio Fognini, reports Xinhua.

The doubles tie will be played Saturday between Argentina's Horacio Zeballos-Eduardo Schwank and Italy's Filippo Volandri-Simone Bolelli, though it is probable that Fognini will occupy the place of Volandri.

The reverse singles matches between Berlocq-Fognini and Monaco-Seppi are scheduled Sunday.

Argentina have never won the Davis Cup despite having played the finals in 1981, 2006, 2008 and 2011. On the other hand, Italy was champion in 1976 (4-1 against Chile, in Santiago).

The winner will play quarterfinals against the winner between Britain and the US, to be played in San Diego.