ARAG WORLD TEAM CUP

The Argentine team stood one point from an opening round defeat Sunday at the 30th ARAG ATP World Team Championship, but battled back to clinch the tie in a decisive doubles thriller.

Jose Acasuso paved the path for Argentina's victory as he faced down match point in the second singles match against Jonas Bjorkman -- ultimately proving the difference in the Red Group round robin tie.

Acasuso denied the Swede's golden opportunity in the second-set tie-break, clinching the set in 70 minutes, and took the momentum into the third set where he broke Bjorkman three times in six opportunities to keep Argentina's hopes alive, 6-7(3), 7-6(7), 6-3.

Bjorkman returned to the court for doubles action with Thomas Johansson shortly afterwards, but again came up just short against Agustin Calleri and Juan Ignacio Chela.

The Swedes launched a series of late comebacks, taking the final three games of the second set and later coming back from down 6-2 in the Match Tie-break to get back on serve, but Calleri and Chela eventually overpowered their counterparts to clinch the tie, 6-4, 4-6, 10-6 (Match TB).

Earlier in the day, Swede Robin Soderling gave his country a 1-0 lead by defeating Chela 6-1, 6-4. He rolled out to a 5-0 lead before the Argentine succeeded in getting on the board.

"I personally didn't have any problems," said Chela. "My problem was Soderling who took me completely by surprise today."

Argentina, a two-time winner at the ARAG ATP World Team Championship, avenged their loss to Sweden in last month's Davis Cup quarterfinals.