Juan Martin del Potro, Argentina's top-ranked player at No. 9, was drawn Thursday to play Feliciano Lopez in the second singles match of the best-of-five series. In Saturday's doubles, Jose Acasuso and Agustin Calleri of Argentina will play Lopez and Fernando Verdasco.
The reverse singles are set for Sunday.
The 55 million pounds ($83 million; 66 million euros) will be paid to Britain's Lawn Tennis Association in installments over a likely five-year period from 2013 after the existing agreement expires, All England Club chairman Tim Phillips told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
"The new arrangement would certainly be mutually beneficial for British tennis and for Wimbledon,'' Phillips said. "We get our grounds back and then we can decide what we do with it and be in charge of our own destiny, while it secures investment in British tennis for the next 40 years until 2053.
The last British man to win the singles title at Wimbledon was Fred Perry in 1936. Virginia Wade was the last women's champion in 1977.
Under the 40-year deal, which will go to a vote on Dec. 10, the All England Club will begin keeping 10 percent of the profits instead of giving it all to the LTA, the governing body of British tennis. The 2008 tournament generated a profit of 25.677 million pounds ($39 million; 31 million euros), which was given to the LTA.
Phillips also said he is confident that Wimbledon will not be severely hampered by the global economic crisis. A quarter of the key sponsorship arrangements expire within the next couple of years, but all major television deals are in place and don't need to be renewed imminently.
"We are in a better position than most and we are in the happy position where demand (for tickets) exceeds supply here,'' Phillips said. "And the rump of the expenditure of building projects has already been done.''
Centre Court, which is being rebuilt with a retractable roof, will be completed before the 2009 tournament begins on June 22.
Yet the players know being the favorites in front of a demanding home crowd could work against them, despite winning 13 straight Davis Cup matches as hosts.
"This is such a dream for all of us, that it's possible that the anxiety, stress and nerves play against you,'' Juan Martin del Potro said Wednesday, ahead of the weekend final. "It's such a passionate experience.''
Marcel Granollers, who replaced Nadal, David Ferrer, Fernando Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez will represent Spain. Nadal withdrew from the Davis Cup final on Nov. 10 because of tendinitis in his right knee.
The series opens Friday with a pair of singles matches. The doubles match is scheduled for Saturday, and the reverse singles will be Sunday.
Nalbandian is expected to play Ferrer on Friday. Argentina captain Alberto Mancini said Wednesday he didn't have a preference regarding competitors for Del Potro, who could face Lopez or Verdasco.
"The good thing is they're both left-handed,'' Mancini said.
Argentina chose indoor hardcourt for the series, and the pace suits the players, Mancini said.
"It's a fairly fast court for within the circuit,'' he said. "It took us a little time to find the velocity we wanted, and when we got to the point where the boys felt comfortable I said, 'That's it. We're not changing anything.'''
Spain is aiming for its third Davis Cup title after wins in 2000 and 2004. The Spaniards lost three times at Australia in 1965, '67 and 2003.
In the 105 Davis Cup finals, the hosts have won 71 times. In the last six finals, only Croatia defeated host Slovakia in 2005.
The top-ranked Spaniard pulled out of the best-of-five championship because of tendinitis in his knee.
"Even without Nadal, Spain is a strong team,'' Mancini said in Mar del Plata, the beachside resort town that will host the final. "We can't relax.''
"We're doing well. The team is good, calm and very motivated,'' Mancini said. "All the points are winnable. We have a very professional team that can go after every one of the points.''
Juan Martin del Potro and David Nalbandian will play singles, but the doubles team will depend on the "results and intensity and length of the matches,'' Mancini said. Nalbandian, who is 16-4 in Davis Cup singles, could join Jose Acasuso or Agustin Calleri for doubles.
Nalbandian, ranked No. 11, is sorry Nadal won't be playing.
"He's a friend and missing a Davis final is never nice,'' Nalbandian said. "It's unfortunate that he didn't come. Without Rafa things change slightly, but we're staying focused on what we have to do to win the series. It doesn't matter who we're playing.''
Spain is going with David Ferrrer, Feliciano Lopez, Fernando Verdasco and Marcel Granollers. The Spanish team has complained that the hard surface was slightly irregular and the ball didn't bounce well in spots.
"The court is very good,'' Del Potro said. "The bounce is normal for this type of surface and I didn't sense anything weird.''
Del Potro, who is expected to play two singles matches, began training with the team Monday after returning Saturday from the Masters Cup in China.
The 20-year-old Argentine is ranked No. 9 after beginning the season No. 50. But four straight victories heading into the U.S. Open pushed him well up the rankings.
"Now I have to put all my effort into the Davis,'' Del Potro said. "It's the most important objective for Argentine tennis in the last few years.''
Argentina has twice reached the Davis Cup final, but lost both times, in 1981 and 2006.
"The season was good,'' Del Potro said. "But I hope to finish it winning the Davis.''
The absence of world number one Rafael Nadal has taken the shine off the Davis Cup final and left Argentina as firm favorites to beat Spain and win the trophy for the first time.
Unbeaten at home for 10 years, Argentina now have higher-ranked players in their favor as well as the playing surface and a partisan crowd.
His withdrawal produced mixed feelings in the home camp.
"I regret that he's not coming, because all the Argentines wanted to see him, but it's also right to say that all Argentines want us to be Davis Cup champions," said Argentina captain Alberto Mancini.
"In that sense, it's good news because our chances have got better."
Argentina, taking part in their third final and at home for the first time, have chosen to stage the game on an indoor surface at the Islas Malvinas arena in the resort of Mar del Plata.
Their usual venue is the larger Parque Roca in Buenos Aires but the clay surface is also preferred by the Spaniards.
The choice of venue turned into a political battle with several other cities hoping to stage the prestigious event and politicians jumping on the bandwagon.
Despite Nadal's absence, it has been almost impossible for the general public to buy tickets at the 11,000 capacity arena with only 300 sold at the venue and another 1,500 over the Internet.
The rest have gone to members of the Argentina Tennis Association (AAT) and sponsors.
Although Mar del Plata is a major resort, hotels have doubled their prices and many said they were sold out two months ago.
David Nalbandian, Argentina's most experienced player, publicly criticized the decision to prefer Mar del Plata over his native Cordoba.
Argentina's challenge will be led by Juan Martin del Potro who has enjoyed a meteoric rise this year, winning four ATP titles in a row on his way into the top ten.
Ranked ninth, he also won the fifth and decisive rubber in the semi-final against Russia, destroying Igor Andreev in straight sets.
Nalbandian is two places below in the rankings.
David Ferrer, ranked 12, will lead the Spanish challenge as they attempt to add to their wins in 2000 and 2004.
"It's disappointing Nadal cannot be with us but we shouldn't talk about him any more from now on," said Spain captain Emilio Sanchez Vicario.
Marcel Granollers, ranked 56th in the world, has taken Nadal's place.
Federer rallied from 3-1 down to win 7-6, taking the tiebreaker 10-7. His victory came days after a sore back contributed his struggles at the Masters Cup, where he failed to reach the semifinals.
John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg also played at the "Showdown of Champions,'' which included four one-set matches.
"It has been a tough season with lots of traveling and I could just sleep for a month,'' he said. "I felt fine during the game, but obviously after a hard season I would need some time off. I'm glad we are at the end of the season and I will take it easy for a few weeks.''
The 10th-ranked Blake beat Federer the last time they played, at the Beijing Olympics.
After dominating tennis the last few years, Federer began the year recovering from mononucleosis. He still managed to reach three major finals and the semifinals at the fourth.
His U.S. Open win pulled him within one title of Pete Sampras' Grand Slam record, but Federer was undecided on whether he would prefer to win his first French Open crown in 2009 or his sixth Wimbledon.
"That's a pretty hard question to answer,'' Federer said. "I'll probably have the answer in August.''
In another singles match, McEnroe beat Borg 7-6 (13-11).
"I'm delighted to have won this match as it was really tough,'' said McEnroe, who is famous for angrily disputing line calls. "I hate to say this but the linesmen did a good job.''
Federer and Borg then teamed to play McEnroe and Blake in doubles, and the Americans won 7-5.
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"Wimbledon is something special. There is no substitute for it,'' Federer told reporters Monday, on the eve of an exhibition match in Kuala Lumpur, billed as the "Showdown of Champions.''
Others playing Tuesday night are James Blake, ranked 10th, and two former Wimbledon champions, John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg. The quartet will play two singles matches and one doubles.
Federer began the year recovering from a bout of mononucleosis. He lost the French Open and Wimbledon finals to Nadal, who overtook him for the No. 1 ranking. But Federer won the Olympic doubles gold, then his fifth straight U.S. Open to pull within one of Pete Sampras' Grand Slam record.
"While I would also love to beat Pete Sampras' Grand Slam record of 14 titles, and also to regain my No. 1 ranking, I place winning another Wimbledon title above all else,'' said Federer.
McEnroe, who also attended the news conference, said he is excited to be playing in a match that will showcase "two generations of players in action.''
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