Germany and Argentina win !

In today's first tie on Center Court I, Germany faced Russia with a packed
stadium of 7800 spectators.

The darling of the German fans, Tommy Haas, did not have an easy time playing
a strong Yevgeny Kafelnikov. It was a nerve-racking first set that Haas won
7-6. With the tie-break he broke resistance of Kafelnikov. He fought but could
not win more than three games against a spectacluous play of Haas in the
second set. This victory gave Nicolas Kiefer the chance to make the lead of
Germany incontestable. After Kiefer won the first set 6-4. His opponent, Marat
Safin,became stronger and forced the German to make more errors. Safin won the
next set 6-2. Kiefer had to pull his game together in the third set and that
is exactly what he did. In the second tie-break of the day he had the
spectators on his side. The crowd was so excited about the play that they
wave produced the wave between change-overs. The atmosphere was indescribable;
packed stadium, beautiful sunshine, spectacular play by the German, and
victory close at hand. Kiefer won the last set to lead Germany to its victory
over Russia. In the following doubles the Russian team gave the Germans a
lesson in doubles play. With a 6-1 6-1 victory, the Russians shortened the tie
to 1-2, but could not change the outcome as Germany won the tie.

On Center Court II Argentina faced Sweden. Thomas Enqvist and Jose Acasuso
fought a long and hard with the lead changing. With three sets and a tie-break
in the third set the spectators were certainly not bored. Many of them who saw
Acasuso for the first time were amazed by his will and great clay court tennis.
This did not help him in the end as Enqvist won the match 4-6 6-1 7-6(5).
Guillermo Canas took his chance to shift the decision to the doubles. In
another three-set-match Canas showed his top-form and especially his
perseverance. With a 6-2 4-6 6-0 victory he won over Thomas Johansson. Now,
both teams had the chance to win the tie by winning the doubles. Fighting
hard, both teams treated the crowd to the new third set tie-break in doubles.
The Argentines were the first to win ten point tie-break ("Super tie-break")
by two points, thus winning the match with the score 6-3 6-7 11-9.

(mboucher)