Nicolas Massu and Fernando Gonzalez spearheaded the Chilean squad to an opening win against Spain in the first round robin
tie of the Blue Group of the ARAG ATP World Team Cup in Dusseldorf on Sunday.
Massu got the 2003 and 2004 winners off to a flying start with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 victory over Spain’s Fernando Verdasco in two
hours and 24 minutes.
With a vocal support high in the stands on Center Court II, Fernando Gonzalez gave Chile an unassailable 2-0 lead with a 7-5,
6-7(6), 6-3 win over David Ferrer.
Afterwards Massu explained to reporters “there are no favourites in our group, but as a team we Chileans have always been
very strong at this event.
“The World Team Championship can boast very good entries this year, there are only Federer and Nadal missing. All other players
who are here, want to win the title. I was quite happy with my game against Verdasco today.”
Paul Capdeville and Adrian Garcia made it 3-0 Chile in the doubles rubber, beating Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco 6-3,
6-2 just as light began to fade on the Rochusclub.
