It wasn't quite the one o'clock start that fans were hoping for, but at 19:09 CET on Saturday the United States became the first team to play their 100th tie in the 29-year history of the ARAG ATP World Team Championship. The four-time winners contested their last round robin tie of the Blue Group.

Spain ran out 2-1 winners at the Ice Stadium, to leave the United States fourth in the Blue Group.

Fernando Verdasco beat Bob Bryan 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 in the first singles rubber. Bryan was playing his first singles match since beating Croatian Roko Karanusic in Davis Cup play in March 2005.

David Ferrer gave Spain an unassailable lead with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Robby Ginepri. It was 24-year-old Ferrer�s first win over Ginepri in four career meetings.

Then with the clock at 01:15 CET, Bob and Mike Bryan led Ferrer and Verdasco 4-3 when Verdasco retired with a quadriceps injury.

The United States and Germany are the only teams to have played at the Rochusclub in Duesseldorf every year since the event�s inauguration in 1978.

On the occasion of their 100th tie, the United States now has a record of 55 wins and 45 losses.

Forty-seven players have represented the U.S. since their first tie on May 8, 1978 against Australia when Roscoe Tanner, Harold Solomon and Bob Lutz competed.