Cilic won the error-filled match 5-7, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-3 to put the pressure on Argentina’s No. 1 player Juan Martin del Potro, who faced Ivo Karlovic in Friday’s second singles. Doubles are set for Saturday with reverse singles on Sunday.
The 23-year-old Cilic wore down the 30-year-old Argentine, finally winning on his third match point when Nalbandian hit a ground stroke into the net after 5 hours, 9 minutes to disappoint a 14,000 sellout at Parque Roca.
Nalbandian had a 4-0 record against Cilic, but they had never played on clay. Argentine captain Martin Jaite chose him to play instead of Juan Monaco, who has been in better form and has a higher ranking.
Nalbandian broke Cilic twice in the first setâ€"and was broken once himself â€" to win 7-5 on the red-clay court on the outskirts of the Argentine capital.
Neither player managed much consistency, and in the second set it was Cilic who made fewer errors, breaking the Argentine three times to take the set 6-4.
Nalbandian was steadier in the third set, breaking Cilic in the fifth game and then holding to win 6-4. He won the set with a backhand down the line, prompting loud applause from the chanting, partisan crowd.
The fourth set was filled again with unforced errors, but each player managed to hold on to serve to force the tiebreaker. Nalbandian went ahead 2-1 in the tiebreaker, but lost the next six points to fall 7-2.
Argentina was the favorite playing at home on the red clay. The South Americans have yet to win the Davis Cup and have been the losing finalist four times, including last year against Spain. Croatia won the Davis Cup in 2005.
Argentina and Croatia have met twice in Davis Cup quarterfinals, and the South Americans have won both. Argentina won in 2002 in Buenos Aires, and in 2006 in Zagreb.
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