ARAG WORLD TEAM CUP

Germany lost its first Round Robin tie at the ARAG ATP World Team Championship since 2004, defeated by clay court powerhouse Spain on Wednesday at the Rochusclub, and will need to win the final Round Robin tie Friday against the Czech Republic to keep their Championship hopes alive.

Spain and Germany, both four-time World Team Champions, were playing against each other for the 18th time in Duesseldorf. Spain came in with a 10-7 advantage, but Germany had won their most recent tie in 2005, 2-1.

Spaniard David Ferrer, who lost to Florian Mayer in the 2005 tie, avoided the same fate Wednesday against Philipp Kohlschreiber. Kohlschreiber had the chance to send the match to a third set after breaking No. 14 Ferrer to go up 5-4, but then failed to serve out the set. Ferrer won the final three games to establish the early lead for Spain.

"I wanted to gain the first point for me and the team. When I was leading 5-3 in the second set, I breathed through and mentally had already won the set. However, that was a big mistake," said Kohlschreiber. "Ferrer distinguishes himself by being a very fast runner, by reading the game well and by switching very quickly from defence to offence."

The 21-year-old Nicolas Almagro, who arrived in Duesseldorf Monday night after receiving a medical check in Alicante that caused him to miss Spain's opener, followed with a successful debut at the Rochusclub. He defeated Mayer in one hour and 25 minutes, breaking the German for the fifth and final time to seal the 6-4, 6-4 and Spain's 50th winning tie at the ARAG ATP World Team Championship.

Mayer said: "That's very frustrating. I simply couldn't get any power into my serve today. If my serve had been as good as in the past few weeks, I would have won. My opponent ranks among the best ten on clay in my opinion."

Germany's invicible tandem of Michael Kohlmann and Alexander Waske once again produced a victory in the doubles match by defeating Almagro and Bartolome Salva-Vidal 7-6(3), 6-3.

The doubles win may ultimately prove the decisive factor in who advances to the title match should the Czech Republic, Germany and Spain finish with 2-1 records at the conclusion of the Round Robin stage. In a three-way tie, the team that has won the most matches is ranked the highest.

"The win in the doubles is an incentive for the team for the final round-robin tie against the Czech Republic on Friday," said Team Captain Patrik Kühnen. "We know we have to win in any case to reach the final, but it's still in our own hands."

The host nation is attempting to reach its third consecutive final in Duesseldorf after going a perfect 3-0 in Round Robin play the last two years. Germany will need a repeat of last year's performance in the group decider, in which they Michael Kohlmann and Alexander Waske defeated Czechs Tomas Berdych and Leos Friedl in the decisive doubles match.

Germany's last loss in Round Robin play came against eventual champions Chile in 2003, when Nicolas Massu and Fernando Gonzalez won both their singles matches over Rainer Schuettler and Tommy Haas.