Date:26/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/26/stories/2008052654741900.htm

Sport - Tennis

Sweden 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.

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.

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