Post by tall_one on May 20, 2004 11:03:44 GMT
Australia and Argentina set up World Team Cup Showdown
By Henry Brown
DUESSELDORF, Germany, May 19 (Reuters) - Australia will face Argentina for a place in the final of the World Team Cup on Friday after both nations claimed victory on Wednesday.
Lleyton Hewitt came from a set down to beat the Netherlands' Martin Verkerk before Mark Philippoussis sealed the victory for Australia with a narrow win over Sjeng Schalken.
Wayne Arthurs and Paul Hanley completed a whitewash by beating Verkerk and John van Lottum in the doubles.
Juan Ignacio Chela won his second singles rubber of the tournament for Argentina by beating the United States' Vincent Spadea before Mariano Zabaleta defeated Robby Ginepri.
Bob and Mike Bryan regained some pride for the U.S. by winning the dead doubles rubber.
The results leave Australia and Argentina evenly poised at the top of the blue group and they now play on Friday in their final group matches to decide who will reach Saturday's final.
"It was another roller coaster ride for me," said Philippoussis, who has now won two three-set matches here after eight matches without a win before the event.
"I was moving well and feeling good so that was positive for me. I'm glad I managed to put it all together again, keep my head and keep us in with a chance."
Hewitt was swept aside in the first set against 2003 French Open finalist Verkerk but hit back to win 1-6 7-6 7-5 before Philippoussis also came from a set down to claim a 4-6 7-6 7-5 victory over Schalken.
The 6-4 7-6 victory for Arthurs and Hanley over Verkerk and van Lottum in the doubles left the Netherlands without a win from any of their six matches in the tournament so far.
Chela beat Spadea 6-3 3-6 6-4 to give Argentina the perfect start to the day before Zabaleta, playing his first singles tie of the week, overcame Ginepri 6-7 6-3 7-5.
Argentina rested Chela and Zabaleta in the doubles as Gaston Gaudio and Lucas Arnold lost to the Bryans 7-5 1-6 3-6.
"It was a good win for me, a hard win because I was tired and nervous," said Chela. "I hope now that we can play well and get to the final."
The last matches in the red group will take place on Thursday with joint group leaders Germany and Chile playing for a place in the final and Spain taking on the Czech Republic.
By Henry Brown
DUESSELDORF, Germany, May 19 (Reuters) - Australia will face Argentina for a place in the final of the World Team Cup on Friday after both nations claimed victory on Wednesday.
Lleyton Hewitt came from a set down to beat the Netherlands' Martin Verkerk before Mark Philippoussis sealed the victory for Australia with a narrow win over Sjeng Schalken.
Wayne Arthurs and Paul Hanley completed a whitewash by beating Verkerk and John van Lottum in the doubles.
Juan Ignacio Chela won his second singles rubber of the tournament for Argentina by beating the United States' Vincent Spadea before Mariano Zabaleta defeated Robby Ginepri.
Bob and Mike Bryan regained some pride for the U.S. by winning the dead doubles rubber.
The results leave Australia and Argentina evenly poised at the top of the blue group and they now play on Friday in their final group matches to decide who will reach Saturday's final.
"It was another roller coaster ride for me," said Philippoussis, who has now won two three-set matches here after eight matches without a win before the event.
"I was moving well and feeling good so that was positive for me. I'm glad I managed to put it all together again, keep my head and keep us in with a chance."
Hewitt was swept aside in the first set against 2003 French Open finalist Verkerk but hit back to win 1-6 7-6 7-5 before Philippoussis also came from a set down to claim a 4-6 7-6 7-5 victory over Schalken.
The 6-4 7-6 victory for Arthurs and Hanley over Verkerk and van Lottum in the doubles left the Netherlands without a win from any of their six matches in the tournament so far.
Chela beat Spadea 6-3 3-6 6-4 to give Argentina the perfect start to the day before Zabaleta, playing his first singles tie of the week, overcame Ginepri 6-7 6-3 7-5.
Argentina rested Chela and Zabaleta in the doubles as Gaston Gaudio and Lucas Arnold lost to the Bryans 7-5 1-6 3-6.
"It was a good win for me, a hard win because I was tired and nervous," said Chela. "I hope now that we can play well and get to the final."
The last matches in the red group will take place on Thursday with joint group leaders Germany and Chile playing for a place in the final and Spain taking on the Czech Republic.
