Germany won a record fifth Power Horse World Team Cup title on Saturday at the Dusseldorf Rochusclub with a 2-1 victory over defending champion Argentina in the final. The host nation became the first country to win the title five times in the tournament’s 34-year history.
After the two singles rubbers had been shared earlier in the day, it fell to Philipp Kohlschreiber and Philipp Petzschner to clinch the tie for Germany as they defeated Juan Ignacio Chela and Maximo Gonzalez 6-3, 7-6(5) in the deciding doubles rubber.
"Every title is important, but a team title is something very special in tennis," said Kohlschreiber. "We have a great team, it’s real fun. I lost my singles match, but I came out strongly for the doubles and it’s great to have a happy ending. We’ve been looking forward to this event because we knew we had a great team spirit and this success is a really great honour for everybody."
"The world team title is a great success for all of us," declared Petzschner. "We wanted to present ourselves well and did it. It’s been a great experience throughout the whole week. It was a great team effort making it to the final and then succeeding today; it’s just a great feeling. For us the tournament was not just preparation for Paris, we desperately wanted that title."
It was the third time that Germany and Argentina had contested the final of the ATP World Tour Team Championship, and the third time that Germany had triumphed over its South American rivals, having also prevailed in the 2005 and 1989 finals.
World No. 21 Florian Mayer had made an emphatic start for Germany as he defeated Argentine Juan Monaco 7-6(4), 6-0 in one hour and 33 minutes. Victory for Mayer, his 26th of the season, meant he will rise to a new career-high of No. 20 in the South African Airways 2011 ATP Rankings on Monday.
"Today I played for the Top 20. I was extremely motivated and am happy that I achieved my goal. The first set was very tough with just a few points being decisive. The second set was much easier," reflected Mayer. "The World Team Championship enjoys a really great importance in our team because we play in Germany and in front of German crowds." Juan Ignacio Chela had then hit back for defending champion Argentina in the second singles rubber as he overcame Kohlschreiber 6-4, 7-6(4) in a match lasting just shy of two hours. The 31-year-old Buenos Aires native was on the winning Argentina side that triumphed in 2007.
"We lost in the final, but for us it was a great week; I’m really happy that we reached the final," said Chela. "I won all four of my matches so I go to Paris very confident."
Argentina had advanced to the final for the seventh time after topping the Red Group with a perfect 3-0 record, and was also bidding to win a record fifth title in Dusseldorf.
"We lost the final against a very difficult opponent, but we are very proud of what we did this week," said Monaco. "We have a lot of passion to win this tournament, but Germany played very well and really deserved it."
So happy for him, he's having a beastly year.
