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Russia, Belgium roll

France and Brazil level in Davis Cup quarters

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Posted: Friday July 16, 1999 09:26 PM

In your face: Kafelnikov returns a shot to Dominik Hrbaty during their match in Moscow. AP

LONDON (AP) -- Yevgeny Kafelnikov overcame a crowd brawl and a determined Dominik Hrbaty as Russia took a 2-0 lead over Slovakia, while Belgium went 2-0 up against Switzerland in Friday's Davis Cup World Group second-round matches.

In other World Group matches Friday, France and Brazil split their opening singles matches, while Australia took a 1-0 lead over the United States.

In Moscow, Marat Safin gave the Russians an early edge with an upset win over Slovakia's Karol Kucera.

The 19-year-old came back from a set and break down to win the second and third sets. And after trailing 1-4 in the fourth, he won five successive games to clinch the result 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-4.

Kafelnikov won a marathon five-set match 2-6, 6-2, 6-7 (7-3), 6-1, 7-5.

After splitting the opening two sets, Kafelnikov lost the third in a tiebreaker after it was delayed several minutes when a fight broke out between rival Slovak and Russian fans.

But he took just 23 minutes to draw level at 2-2 and then broke the Slovakian at with the decider tied 5-5 before serving out for the match.

The Moscow encounter was destined to be surrounded in controversy after sand, specially imported from Sweden to spread over the clay courts, was sent back by Russian authorities because it was radioactive.

Reports said the 45-ton mixture of sand and clay, imported by the Russian federation on the advice of the International Tennis Federation, was stopped by customs officials because it was emitting radiation at seven times the normal level.

The games went ahead on the clay courts using local sand.

In Brussels, Belgium's top player Xavier Malisse beat Switzerland's Lorenzo Manta 6-4, 6-0, 7-6 (7-1), while Christophe Van Garsse overcame Roger Federer in five sets as the hosts took a 2-0 advantage.

Van Garsse beat Federer 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 1-6, 7-5, 6-1 in a long duel on the outdoor clay court during a heat and humid afternoon.

Federer suffered leg cramps several times and had to take breaks for massage. In the first match, 18-year-old Malisse, who has climbed up the world rankings from No. 847 to No. 111, made half as many unforced errors as his more experienced rival to win in straight sets.

In Pau, France, Gustavo Kuerten gave Brazil the lead when he outlasted Sebastien Grosjean 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (5-7), 9-7.

Cedric Pioline evened the tie at 1-1 later in the day, routing Fernando Meligini 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.

In the last tie of the day -- the contentious one moved from Australia to the United States to celebrate the centennial of the Davis Cup -- Lleyton Hewitt overcame 52-degree Celsius (126 Fahrenheit) head and outlasted Todd Martin to give the visitors the lead.

The 18-year-old watched as the American faded, winning 6-4, 6-7 (1-7), 6-3, 6-0.

Patrick Rafter had a chance to put the Australians well in control when he faced Jim Courier later Friday in the second singles.

The match is a highly watched one considering the ITF moved the match to the Longwood Cricket Club in Chestnut Hill just outside Boston. The venue was the site of the first Davis Cup match and although Australia had the rights under ITF rules to host, the ITF arbitrarily changed the site to make it the cornerstone of its centenary celebrations.

 

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As rival fans fought in the stands, Yevgeny Kafelnikov found himself fighting for survival on the court.   • Start(952 K .MOV) Click here for the latest audio and video
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