Czechs get checkmated by inspired Americans

INGLEWOOD (CALIFORNIA), APRIL 10. Andre Agassi drew the United States from the brink of Davis Cup elimination and then saw Pete Sampras overcome a strained thigh to send the team to the semifinals.

Agassi beat Jiri Novak of the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 to tie the quarterfinal 2-2. Sampras followed with 18 aces in a 6-4, 6- 4, 7-6 (7-2) win over Slava Dosedel in the final match to clinch a 3-2 victory.

The United States will play Spain, a 4-1 winner over Russia, from July 21 in Spain.

Playing a fifth and decisive match for the first time in his seven-year Davis Cup career, Sampras hit a backhand winner off a 182 kmph serve by Dosedel to win the tie-breaker 7-2 and set off a red, white and blue celebration among the 12,000 fans at the forum.

After sharing hugs with teammates Agassi, Alex O'Brien, Jared Palmer and captain John McEnroe, Sampras jogged around the court holding an American flag overhead as `celebration' by Kool and the gang blared over the loudspeakers. He passed the flag to Agassi for a lap, then McEnroe did the same.

Sampras played with energy and power, two ingredients sorely missing in his straight-set flop against Novak in Friday's opening singles. The 6-7 (1-7), 3-6, 2-6 loss was the worst of Sampras' Davis Cup career.

In other Davis Cup matches, Brazil joined defending champion Australia in the semifinals. Australia defeated Germany 3-2 and will next face Brazil, a 3-2 winner over Slovakia.

Earlier, Agassi had beaten Jiri Novak 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 to keep U.S. in the hunt. ``It was just a great team effort,'' Sampras said. ``Andre is certainly one of the best teammates I could ever dream of having, and today, we were dominant. That's what we were hoping for on Friday, and it didn't happen.''

On Friday, Agassi beat Dosedel but Sampras fell to Novak, and on Saturday, Novak and David Rikl downed Jared Palmer and Alex O'Brien, currently the top-ranked doubles players on the ATP Tour.

The Americans lined up a semifinal clash in July in Spain, which will no doubt be played on clay.

Celebration time for Spaniards

The Spaniards finished with a 4-1 victory over Russia, the visitors' only point coming in doubles.

Albert Costa brushed aside world No. 2 Yevgeny Kafelnikov 6-0, 6- 3, 6-0 to seal victory for the host. In the inconsequential fifth rubber, Juan Carlos Ferrero thrashed Marat Safin 6-0, 6-3.

Meligeni is Brazil's hero

At Rio de Janeiro, Fernando Meligeni defeated Karol Kucera 5-7, 7-6 (8-6), 6-2, 6-4 to complete Brazil's victory over Slovakia.

Earlier, Dominik Hrbaty had kept Slovakia's Davis Cup hopes alive when he beat Brazilian No. 1 Gustavo Kuerten in three sets to level the quarterfinal tie 2-2. The 22-year-old Hrbaty played some of the best tennis of his career to defeat his 23- year-old Brazilian adversary 7-5, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) in two hours and 50 minutes.

The victory in front of an enthusiastic home crowd earned Brazil just its second semifinal berth. But it'll have a tough time against defending champion Australia in July.

- AFP

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