Germany will meet Spain in their first round robin tie of the Blue Group at
the 2008 ARAG ATP World Team Championship at the Duesseldorf Rochusclub starting
on Sunday at 12:30 hrs CET, a result of the draw ceremony Friday. Further
opponents of the German team are Russia and Italy in the Blue Group. The USA,
Argentina, Czech Republic and Sweden have been drawn to play in the Red Group.
Consequently there will be a Davis Cup revenge tie between Germany and Spain
on the opening day of the 31st World Team Championship. Both teams recently met
in the quarterfinals of the Davis Cup in Bremen at the beginning of April when
Germany lost.
As in Bremen, Philipp Kohlschreiber and David
Ferrer will play each other in the first match. According to the new
format with every team playing every day during the round robins, this will be
the only German match on Sunday. The second singles between Nicolas
Kiefer and Feliciano Lopez and the final doubles will
be played on Monday (from 13:00 hrs). Lopez replaces Nicolas Almagro at short
notice.
Altogether six singles will take place on Sunday, then two singles and four
doubles on Monday.
In addition to Germany vs Spain, Russia will play Italy in the Blue Group on
the opening day. USA vs Czech Republic and Argentina vs Sweden are the scheduled
ties in the Red Group. The winners of these ties will then meet the losers on
the second day of the round robins on Tuesday and Wednesday.
According to tournament director Dietloff von Arnim the participation of
slightly injured Kohlschreiber and Andy Roddick has been
ascertained. American Roddick was forced to withdraw due to back problems at the
tournament in Rome and had returned to the United States for treatment.
However, he announced to von Arnim that he will arrive in Duesseldorf on
Tuesday at the latest. Kohlschreiber did not play the doubles together with
Nicolas Kiefer in Hamburg due to problems with his right hand, but will be fit
in time for Duesseldorf according to the latest information.
Dr. Paul-Otto Fassbender, Chairman of the Board of title sponsor ARAG, said
on the occasion of the draw: “The new tournament format increases the
attractiveness of the tournament. It is an exceptional event on the European
calendar. I am looking forward to full stands, top-level matches and great,
doping-free sport.”
The groups at the 2008 ARAG WORLD TEAM CUP
Red Group:
USA, Argentina, Czech Republic, Sweden
Blue Group: Spain,
Russia, Germany, Italy
1st round robin ties starting on Sunday, May 18, from 12:30 hrs:
Red
Group: USA vs Czech Republic, Argentia vs Sweden Blue Group: Spain vs Germany,
Russia vs Italy
