Monday, 19 May, 2008

James Blake did not get off to a good start at the ARAG World Team Cup, losing to the Czech Republic's Tomas Berdych in the first round-robin match of the event.

The 7-6 (7/5) 7-6 (7/5) loss was Blake's fourth on clay this month, following his two victories in Rome at the beginning of May.

The 28-year-old Blake is now 1-5 at this tournament, which changed its format this season.

Instead of the traditional round-robin ties of two singles and a doubles being played on the same day, the matches are now spread over two days. That ensures that all the participating nations have a player on court every day of the event.

Wayne Odesnik brought the United States even with the Czechs in the red group when he posted a 6-2 6-1 victory over Ivo Minar.

Odesnik is filling in for Andy Roddick, who is expected to arrive on Tuesday. The top American returned to New York to get treatment on a back injury which forced him to withdraw from the Rome semi-finals last weekend.

In other red group action on Sunday, Robin Soderling got Sweden off to a good start against defending champions Argentina, defeating Guillermo Canas 6-3 6-1.

In the blue group, Germany took an early 1-0 lead when Philipp Kohlschreiber needed just 48 minutes to defeat Spain's David Ferrer 6-1 6-0. That avenged the German's four-set loss to Ferrer last month in the Davis Cup quarter-finals.

Also in the blue group, Russia battled to a 2-0 lead over Italy.

Mikhail Youzhny prevailed against Potito Starace 6-4 5-7 6-2 and compatriot Igor Andreev followed by beating recent Munich finalist Simone Bolelli 6-3 6-7 (7/2) 6-3.

French Open blow for Roddick
Davydenko advances in Austria
Tennis to launch anti-corruption scheme
Edberg to return
Medina Garrigues into second round
American pair go through
Top seed Tsonga advances in Morocco
Fed: I have clay game to beat Nadal
Jankovic seals Rome crown
Blake makes bad start against Czechs