DUESSELDORF, Germany -- Germany surprised Russia 2-1 in the first round of the World Team Cup on Monday, while Argentina defeated Sweden 2-1.

Tommy Haas beat former French Open champion Yevgeny Kafelnikov 7-6 (5), 6-3, and Nicolas Kiefer secured the victory for Germany when he beat Marat Safin 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (5).

"Losing becomes a habit, but I have to deal with it," Kafelnikov said. "I've been there before, and hopefully I'll get through it again."

Kiefer, who had lost 13 of 16 matches this year coming into the World Team Cup, beat Safin the day after he lost in the final of the tournament in Hamburg.

"It was difficult to play, coming from Hamburg," Safin said. "I had my opportunities and I tried, but I wasn't good enough to beat him, even though I had the match in my hands.

"I was a break up in the first set and a break up in the third, but I couldn't make it."

The Russians gained some consolation when Kafelnikov and Safin teamed to crush Karsten Braasch and Lars Burgsmuller 6-1, 6-1.

Thomas Enqvist won the opening match for Sweden, but took two hours, 15 minutes to defeat Jose Acasuso 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (5). Acasuso was playing for Juan Ignacio Chela, who withdrew with an inflamed knee.

Guillermo Canas made it 1-1 by beating Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson 6-2, 4-6, 6-0.

Argentina took the deciding doubles when Lucas Arnold and Gaston Etlis saved a match point to beat Jonas Bjorkman and Johansson 6-3, 6-7 (3), 11-9.

The format for the event, celebrating its 25th year, consists of two groups of four teams. The winners of each group advance to the final Saturday.