Britain avoid whitewash against Argentina

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Jamie Baker spared Britain from a whitewash in their Davis Cup first-round tie against Argentina after defeating Agustin Calleri 7-6 6-4 in the final dead rubber on Sunday.

Argentina, runners-up in 2006, had already secured their place in the quarter-finals on Saturday after taking a 3-0 winning lead but fell one match short of completing a rout.

Jose Acasuso extended Argentina's lead to 4-0 earlier on Sunday, defeating Alex Bogdanovic 7-5 7-5 in the first reverse singles.

Baker had been expected to surrender in similar fashion as he was ranked 194 places below the 41st-ranked Calleri.

However, he proved that he could last the distance on the Argentine's favoured red clay surface and emerged triumphant after two hours.

In the absence of British number one Andy Murray, world number 188 Bogdanovic was the highest-ranked Briton in Buenos Aires.

Argentina will host Sweden in the last eight tie in April.