ARAG World Team Cup 2008

[SAFINNO1]

Russia for once decided to play this year

Blue Group

(2) Spain:
David Ferrer
Feliciano Lopez
Marcel Granollers
Captain: Javier Piles

(3) Russia:
Mikhail Youzhny
Igor Andreev
Dmitry Tursunov
Captain: Shamil Tarpichev

(5) Germany:
Philipp Kohlschreiber
Nicolas Kiefer
Denis Gremelmayr
Christopher Kas
Philipp Petzschner
Captain: Patrik Kuehnen

(7) Italy:
Potito Starace
Simone Bolelli
Filippo Volandri
Captain: Umberto Rianna

Red Group

(1) United States:
Andy Roddick
James Blake
Wayne Odesnik
Bob Bryan
Mike Bryan
Captain: John Roddick

(4) Argentina:
Guillermo Canas
Juan Ignacio Chela
Sebastien Prieto
Lucas Arnold Ker
Captain: Gaston Etlis

(6/WC) Czech Republic:
Tomas Berdych
Ivo Minar
Pavel Vizner
Captain: Jaroslav Navratil

(8) Sweden:
Robin Soderling
Thomas Johansson
Robert Lindstedt
Captain: Peter Carlsson


Sunday, May 18

Blue Group

Germany leads Spain 1-0
18 May P. Kohlschreiber d. D. Ferrer 61 60
19 May N. Kiefer v. F. Lopez
19 May Doubles

Russia d. Italy 2-0
18 May M. Youzhny d. P. Starace 64 57 62
18 May I. Andreev d. S. Bolelli 63 67(2) 63
19 May Doubles

Red Group

USA level with Czech Republic 1-1
18 May J. Blake lost to T. Berdych 67(5) 67(5)
18 May W. Odesnik d. I. Minar 62 61
19 May Doubles

Sweden leads Argentina 1-0
18 May G. Canas lost to R. Soderling 36 16
19 May J.I. Chela v. J. Bjorkman
19 May Doubles

[SAFINNO1]

Tuesday, May 20 & Wednesday, May 21
GER 1-2 ITA
20 May P. Kohlschreiber bt P. Starace 6-2, 7-6(5)
21 May N. Kiefer lost to S. Bolelli 6-7(4), 6-7(0)
21 May Kas/Petzschner lost to Bolelli/Starace 6-2, 3-6, 4-10


ESP 2-1 RUS
20 May D. Ferrer bt M. Youzhny 6-3, 6-3
21 May F. Lopez bt I. Andreev 6-4, 6-4
21 May Granollers/Lopez lost toTursunov/Youzhny 3-6, 4-6


USA 2-1 ARG
20 May J. Blake bt G. Canas 7-6(4), 6-4
20 May W. Odesnik lost to J.I. Chela 5-7, 1-6
21 May Odesnik/Reynolds bt Arnold Ker/Prieto 6-3, 6-7(5), 10-7

CZE 0-3 SWE
20 May T. Berdych lost to R. Soderling 4-6, 6-1, 3-6
20 May M. Tabara lost to T. Johansson 2-6, 6-4, 6-7(5)
21 May Tabara/Vizner lost to Soderling/Johansso 4-6, 5-7

[SAFINNO1]

Thursday, May 22 & Friday, May 23
RUS 3-0GER

22 May I. Andreev bt P. Kohlschreiber 6-4, 6-3
23 May D. Tursunov bt N. Kiefer 6-4, 3-6, 7-5
23 May Tursunov/Youzhny btKas/Petzschner7-6(2), 6-3


ESP 1-2 ITA

22 May D. Ferrer bt P. Starace 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
23 May F. Lopez lost to S. Bolelli 4-6, 3-6
23 May Granollers/Lopezlost to Bolelli/Starace 4-6, 6-7(3)


USA 0-3 SWE

22 May J. Blake lost to R. Soderling 7-5, 3-6, 0-6
22 May B. Reynolds lost to T. Johansson 3-6, 6-2, 3-6
23 May Odesnik/Reynolds lost to Lindstedt/Soderling 1-6, 2-6

ARG 2-1CZE

22 May G. Canas T. Berdych lost to 2-6, 6-3, 3-6
22 May J.I. Chela bt M. Tabara 6-0, 6-4
23 May Arnold Ker/Prieto btBerdych/Vizner 7-6(3), 6-3

Russia Ousts Germany, Targets Sweden in Final

In its first event appearance since consecutive runner-up showings from 2000-02, Russia succeeded in finishing atop the Blue Group standings to earn a return trip to the final at the ARAG ATP World Team Championship.

Last year’s Davis Cup finalists first ended host nation Germany's title hopes on Friday at the Rochusclub as Dmitry Tursunov clinched the final round robin tie with a 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 win over Nicolas Kiefer, and then received help when Italy came back to defeat Spain.

Kiefer, who had defeated Tursunov in their previous two meetings, double-faulted at match point to seal Germany's fate. He managed to convert on just one of his 13 break point chances in the two hour, 30 minute match, while Tursunov won two of four.

"My defeat was very disappointing not only to me but also to the team and the fans," said Kiefer. "I am training very hard throughout the year, invest a lot into the sport, and then it is of course upsetting when I can transport it into the game. I am lacking consistency too often."

Tursunov, playing in his first career singles match at the Rochusclub, then teamed up with compatriot Mikhail Youzhny to complete the sweep of the German team, defeating Christopher Kas and Philipp Petzschner 7-6(2), 6-3.

Russia took the 1-0 lead against Germany on Thursday when Igor Andreev handed Philipp Kohlschreiber his first loss of the week, 6-4, 6-3.

Kohlschreiber entered his match winless in five career matches against Andreev, and once again failed to solve his Russian opponent. Andreev broke the German to secure the first set, and broke one more time to take the 2-0 lead in the second.

The two breaks were enough for the win as Andreev saved all five break points he faced.

Andreev has now won nine straight matches against German players, a streak that began in 2005 when he defeated Kohlschreiber in the third round at New Haven.

The World No. 28 made a winning start on his Dusseldorf debut when he beat Italian Simone Bolelli in three sets Monday, but lost to Spaniard Feliciano Lopez 6-4, 6-4 on Wednesday.

Kohlschreiber had established the lead for his country in the first two round robin ties, dismissing World No. 5 David Ferrer en route to Germany’s 2-1 victory over Spain and notching the only win in Germany’s tie against Italy.

Russia will face three-time champion Sweden in Saturday's final. Sweden, winners of all three of its Red Group ties this week, defeated Russia in the only previous meeting between the two nations en route to the 1991 title.