Date:25/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/25/stories/2008052559781900.htm

Sport - Tennis

Sweden beats Russia, wins World Team Cup

Berlin: Sweden defeated Russia 2-1 to win the World Team Cup for the fourth time on Saturday in a nerve-wracking final in Duesseldorf.

It was the fourth time in the past eight years that Russia has lost the clay court event final while it was Sweden’s first victory since 1995.

Sweden’s Robert Lindstedt and Robin Soderling came from behind to beat Russia’s Dmitry Tursunov and Mikhail Youzhny in the deciding doubles match 4-6, 7-6, 11-9 to seal the victory.

Soderling had given Sweden a 1-0 lead with his 6-3 6-1 win over Youzhny in the opening singles.

Igor Andreev then equalised for Russia by beating former Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson in a three-set thriller 2-6 6-3 6-4.

Russia was beaten finalist in 2000, 2001 and 2002. Sweden, who swept the United States 3-0 on Friday, has now won four out of six finals. Its previous wins were in 1988, 1991 and 1995.

Davydenko triumphs

Nikolay Davydenko, the World No. 4, clinched the Poertschach claycourt title for the third time on Saturday beating Argentina’s Juan Monaco 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 in the final.

Davydenko took the first set after breaking serve in the opening game.

But second seed Monaco, the World No. 14, asserted his authority in the second set forcing the Russian into a series of errors with his powerful forehand to level the match.

Monaco, the defending champion, was unable to keep up his advantage however and Davydenko enjoyed a crucial break in the third game on his way to wrapping up his second title of 2008.

The results: ARAG World Team Championship: Final: Sweden bt Russia 2-1 (Robin Soderling bt Mikhail Youzhny 6-3, 6-1; Thomas Johansson lost to Igor Andreev 6-2, 3-6, 4-6; Robert Lindstedt & Robin Soderling bt Dmitry Tursunov & Mikhail Youzhny 4-6, 7-6(5), 11-9). At Poertschach: ATP Poertschach International: Final: Nikolay Davydenko bt Juan Monaco 6-2, 2-6, 6-2.

At Casablanca: ATP Casablanca Grand Prix: Final: Gilles Simon bt Julien Benneteau 7-5, 6-2.

At Istanbul: WTA Istanbul Cup: Final: Agnieszka Radwanska bt Elena Dementieva 6-3, 6-2.

At Strasbourg: WTA Strasbourg International: Final: Anabel Medina Garrigues bt Katarina Srebotnik 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-0.