Germany in Argentina for Davis Cup

BUENOS AIRES, Jan. 31 (UPI) -- Philipp Kohlschreiber will try to give Germany a leg up as its tries to avenge last year's first-round Davis Cup loss to Argentina.

This weekend marks the second consecutive year Argentina and Germany will play a first-round series in Davis Cup. The Argentines improved to 12-0 in the Davis Cup first round since 2002 when they defeated Germany 4-1 last year in Bamberg, Germany.

The 2013 rematch moves to Buenos Aires, where the countries will play a best-of-five-series on an outdoors red clay court.

Kohlschreiber, No. 19 in the world rankings, was given the opening match Friday for the Germans. He'll meet 70th-ranked Carlos Berlocq. German Florian Mayer, ranked 28th, goes against world No. 12 Juan Monaco in the second match.

They switch opponents for Sunday singles, with Monaco taking on Kohlschreiber in the fourth match of the series and Mayer playing Berlocq in the fifth.

Kohlschreiber is also drawing duty in the doubles, teaming with Christopher Kas against Argentina's team of David Nalbandian and Horacio Zeballos.

The winner of the series moves to the April 5-7 quarterfinals versus either France or Israel, which are also playing a first-round series this week.