Argentina makes world team finals

Dusseldorf, Germany -- Juan Ignacio Chela and Jose Acasuso claimed singles victories Thursday giving Argentina a berth in the finals of the ATP World Team Championship in Germany.

The singles victories, along with the straight-set win by the doubles team of Agustin Calleri and Sebastian Prieto, put Argentina past Chile in round-robin play and secured the Red Group championship.

Chile will meet the Blue Group finalist for the tournament title on Saturday. Teams from the Czech Republic and Germany play Friday to determine the Blue Group winner.

Chela stopped Fernando Gonzales 6-3, 7-5, and Acasuso ran over Nicolas Massu 6-3, 6-4 for the Argentines' singles win and the best-of-three point. Both Argentina and Chile went 2-1 in round-robin play but the head-to-head win put Argentina in the finals.

In the other half of the Red Group, Sweden defeated the United States 2-1. Thomas Johansson beat Mike Bryan, 6-3, 6-3, and Robin Soderling topped James Blake, 6-3, 6-3, in the singles matches. Bryan and his brother Bob Bryan teamed for a doubles victory for the United States.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International.