Dusseldorf, Germany (My Sportsbook) - Philipp Kohlschreiber made a resounding start for the German squad on the opening Sunday at the $2.34 million ARAG ATP World Team Championship, a clay-court French Open tuneup.
It took Kohlschreiber just 48 minutes to defeat Spain's David Ferrer 6-1, 6-0 in the first match on Center Court I, giving the Germans a 1-0 lead after the first day of round robin action.
Mikhail Youzhny and Igor Andreev jump-started the Russian team. World No. 13 Youzhny prevailed against Italian Potito Starace, 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in the opening match on Center Court II. Andreev followed by closing out his 6-3, 6-7 (2-7), 6-3 win against recent Munich finalist Simone Bolelli, converting on two of his 15 break point chances while Bolelli failed to take advantage of his three. Both singles rubbers spanned nearly 2 1/2 hours.
Russia is making its 11th appearance at the ARAG ATP World Team Championship, and its first since achieving its third straight runner-up finish in 2002.
The USA and the Czech Republic split a pair of matches on the day. Tomas Berdych got the Czechs off to a good start by putting away American James Blake, 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-5). Surprisingly, Wayne Odesnik got the USA back on track with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Ivo Minar.
The final match of the day had Sweden's Robin Soderling paired up against Argentina's Guillermo Canas. Soderling easily dumped Canas in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1. Argentina is the defending champion.
Monday's action features recent Hamburg quarterfinalist Nicolas Kiefer of Germany against Spain's Feliciano Lopez. Kiefer has a 2-0 lifetime record against Lopez, most recently defeating the Spaniard in the dead rubber in the Davis Cup quarterfinals.
Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina will take on Sweden's Thomas Johansson in the only other singles match on Monday, while doubles rubbers for all four matchups will also take place.
The round-robin tournament is composed of eight teams, seeded into the "Red" and "Blue" Groups.
In 2008, the ARAG ATP World Team Championship will be contested under a new playing format. The 31st edition of the international men's team competition will feature ties over two days. Every team will now play each day.
