The Hindu : U.S. eliminated

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 11, 2003

Sport

Sport - Tennis

U.S. eliminated

NEW YORK Feb. 10. Defending Davis Cup champion Russia survived a scare from the Czech Republic on Sunday while the United States was beaten by Croatia in the World Group's first round. Also, Switzerland and Sweden both came back from 2-1 deficits to advance to the quarterfinals after the reverse singles matches. On Saturday, Argentina, Australia, France and Spain assured their places in the quarterfinals after taking 3-0 leads.

In Ostrava, Czech Republic, Nikolay Davydenko was the comeback hero for Russia, beating Radek Stepanek in the fifth and deciding match in a five-set marathon 1-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2, 3-6, 6-0.

Earlier, Jiri Novak gave the Czechs hope of a turnaround after downing Yevgeny Kafelnikov in the first match of the day, 6-2, 6-3, 7-6 (5), but the Russians held on for the 3-2 win.

Kafelnikov, who had said earlier he would not play in the reverse singles on Sunday, replaced Mikhail Youzhny, who withdrew from the match because of a fever.

Russia, which was playing injured world No. 7 Marat Safin, will face Argentina in the quarterfinals in April.

In Zagreb, Croatia, Ivan Ljubicic sent the United States to defeat, the seventh time the Americans have been eliminated in the first round and the second time in the last three seasons. Ljubicic beat James Blake 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-3 and Mario Ancic topped Taylor Dent 7-6 (5), 3-6, 7-6 (10) in the meaningless fifth match as Croatia won 4-1. Croatia will play in Spain in the quarterfinals on clay.

The United States was without rising star Andy Roddick, who injured his wrist last month in making the semifinals of the Australian Open. Both Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi have opted not to play Davis Cup.

In Arnhem (the Netherlands), Michel Kratochvil and Roger Federer were the comeback heroes, each winning Sunday to send Switzerland on to the next round with a 3-2 win.

Kratochvil won the decider, beating Martin Verkerk 1-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (6), 6-1, while Federer kept the Swiss alive by beating Sjeng Schalken 7-6 (2), 6-4, 7-5. Switzerland will play France, the 2002 runner-up, in the quarterfinals.

In Helsingborg, Sweden, Jonas Bjorkman, playing one of his best Davis Cup singles matches ever, and Andreas Vinciguerra won their reverse singles matches to help Sweden advance by beating Brazil 3-2.

Bjorkman beat former world No. 1 Gustavo Kuerten 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 4-6, 6-1 and Vinciguerra topped Flavio Saretta 6-1, 7-5, 6-3. Sweden will take on Australia in the next round.

In Seville, Spain, the Spanish completed the rout over Belgium, winning both reverse singles matches to win 5-0.

Juan Carlos Ferrero, the world No. 3, dismantled 20-year-old Kristof Vliegen 6-1, 6-4 in just 52 minutes and Carlos Moya, No. 4 in the world, took apart Christophe Rochus 6-2, 6-2.

``On clay we're not afraid of anybody,'' Ferrero said of the quarterfinal showdown against Croatia.

Spain beat Australia on clay in the 2000 Davis Cup final.

In Bucharest, Romania, Victor Hanescu gave the hosts something to cheer about — beating Fabrice Santoro 6-1, 6-4 — but Nicolas Escude made it 4-1 for the French after beating Gabriel Trifu 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-4.

France has reached the Davis Cup final three of the last four years but won just once, in 2001.

In Sydney, Australia, Alex Bogdanovic gave Britain its only win after beating Todd Woodbridge 6-2, 7-6 (4), but Wayne Arthurs beat Miles Maclagan 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 to make the final 4-1 for the Aussies.

Britain was playing without its top players, Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski, who are injured.

In Buenos Aires, Argentina, the host finished off the 5-0 sweep of Germany as Juan Ignacio Chela topped David Prinosil 6-4, 6-1 and Gaston Gaudio beat Lars Burgsmuller 6-3, 6-1.

The first-round losers will take part in relegation playoffs in order to remain in the 16-team World Group for 2004.

The results: World Group (first round): At Atletico (Buenos Aires) Argentina 5 Germany 0 (Juan Ignacio Chela (Arg) bt David Prinosil 6-4, 6-1; Gaston Gaudio (Arg) bt Lars Burgsmuller 6-3, 6-1).

At Sydney: Australia 4 Britain 1 (Mark Philippoussis (Aus) bt Alan Mackin 6-3, 6-3, 6-3; Lleyton Hewitt (Aus) bt Alex Bogdanovic 7-5, 6-1, 6-2; Wayne Arthurs (Aus) bt Miles Maclagan 4-6, 6-1, 6-4; Alex Bogdanovic (Brit) bt Todd Woodbridge 6-2, 7-6 (4).

At Zagreb (Croatia): Croatia 4 United States 1 (Ivan Ljubicic (Cro) bt James Blake 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-3; Mario Ancic (Cro) bt Taylor Dent 7-6 (5), 3-6, 7-6 (10).

At Ostrava (Czech Republic): Czech Republic 2 Russia 3 (Jiri Novak (Cze) bt Yevgeny Kafelnikov 6-2, 6-3, 7-6 (5); Nikolay Davydenko (Rus) bt Radek Stepanek 1-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2, 3-6, 6-0.

At Bucharest (Romania): France 4 Romania 1 (Victor Hanescu (Rom) bt Fabrice Santoro 6-1, 6-4; Nicolas Escude (Fra) bt Gabriel Trifu, 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-4.

At Arnhem (the Netherlands): Netherlands 2 Switzerland 3 (Michel Kratochvil (Swi) bt Martin Verkerk 1-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (6), 6-1; Roger Federer (Swi) bt Sjeng Schalken 7-6 (2), 6-4, 7-5.

At Seville (Spain): Spain 5 Belgium 0 (Juan Carlos Ferrero (Esp) bt Kristof Vliegen 6-1, 6-4; Carlos Moya (Esp) bt Christophe Rochus 6-2, 6-2.

At Helsingborg (Sweden): Sweden 3, Brazil 2 (Jonas Bjorkman (Swe) bt Gustavo Kuerten 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 4-6, 6-1; Andreas Vinciguerra (Swe) bt Flavio Saretta 6-1, 7-5, 6-3.

Asia-Oceania Group I (first round): At Hamilton (New Zealand) New Zealand 5 Pakistan 0 (James Shortall (NZ) bt Asif Shafik 6-2, 6-2; Robbie Cheyne (NZ) bt Nomi Qamar 6-2, 6-0.

At Tashkent (Uzbekistan) Uzbekistan 3 Indonesia 2 (Vadim Kutsenko (Uzb) bt Peter Handoyo 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-0; Oleg Ogorodov (Uzb) bt Febi Widhiyanto 1-6, 7-5, 7-5, 6-0.

At Bangkok (Tha) Thailand 4, South Korea 1 (Paradon Srichaphan bt Kim Dong-hyun 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (3); Danai Udomchoke bt Chung Hee-seok 6-1, 6-3. — AP

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