Uncasville, Feb 12: The 21-year-old Robby Ginepri became the first American rookie to win a Davis Cup tie after falling two sets behind. A surprise choice by U.S. captain Patrick McEnroe for the singles matches, Ginepri was struggling to justify his selection against the world number 76 before redeeming himself with victory on his first match point. "I was so happy to get through," Ginepri told ESPN television. "I was pretty nervous before but kept telling myself to stay calm. I always felt I could turn things around." The American looked assured early on, racing to a 5-2 lead and holding a set point a game later on his own serve. However, once Melzer had exposed Ginepri's brittle temperament to break back and force a tiebreak, the momentum changed drastically. The left-hander took the breaker 8-6 on his fifth set point, before opening up a two-set lead by breaking in the 10th and final game of the second set.


Ginepri restored his confidence with an immediate break of serve in the third set and rarely looked back as Melzer became increasingly frustrated with his unforced errors and some inconsistent line calls.


McEnroe said: "Even at two sets down, I felt Robby could come back. He showed a lot of guts."


Ginepri had lost his only other career five-set match before Friday. Saturday's doubles rubber features American duo Bob and Mike Bryan against Julian Knowle and Alexander Peya.


Victory for the Bryan twins, who are the world's top-ranked partnership, would clinch the opening-round encounter for the U.S. and set up a quarter-final showdown against the winner of the Australia-Sweden tie.


Bureau Report