DUESSELDORF, May 17: Mark Philippoussis began lifting his sorry tennis season out of the depths Monday, battling back for a victory in group play at the 2.1-million-euros World Team Championships to snap an eight-match losing run.

The Australian's 6-7 (1-7), 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) win over American Vince Spadea put his nation ahead in the tie on clay and the Rochus club and did wonders for the Scud's sagging confidence.

Lleyton Hewitt made it a 2-0 sweep for Australia as he picked his way through a break-strewn final set to defeat Robby Ginepri 7-5, 6-7 (1-7), 6-4 after the American salvaged a match point in the ninth game.

Trailing 5-2 in the third, he rallied back into the fight with style and grit. Meanwhile 2002 champion Argentine notched a 2-0 win over the Netherlands through victories from Gaston Gaudio and Juan Chela.

Results

Blue Group: Australia v U.S. (Australian names first): Lleyton Hewitt bt Robby Ginepri 7-5 6-7 (1-7) 6-4; Mark Philippoussis bt Vincent Spadea 6-7 (1-7) 6-3 7-6 (7-4)

Netherlands v Argentina (Netherlands names first) Sjeng Schalken lost to Juan Ignacio Chela 3-6 7-5 5-7; Martin Verkerk lost to Gaston Gaudio 6-4 2-6 4-6.

Agassi humbled

ST POELTEN: Top seed Andre Agassi suffered a shock defeat in the first round of the St Poelten Grand Prix on Monday, losing 6-2 7-6 to Serbian journeyman Nenad Zimonjic.

Results:

Ivo Karlovic bt Andrea Stoppini 6-7 6-4 6-3; Olivier Rochus bt Harel Levy 6-1 6-1; Stefan Koubek bt Robin Soderling 7-5 7-6 (7-3); Nenad Zimonjic bt Andre Agassi (U.S.) 6-2 7-6 (8-6); Mario Ancic bt Galo Blanco (Spain) 6-2 6-4; Nikolay Davydenko bt Dmitry Tursunov 6-2 6-0; Xavier Malisse bt Karol Beck (Slovakia) 7-5 6-0; Hugo Armando bt Tomas Behrend 6-4 6-3. -Agencies