|
 |   |
|
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Multimedia Central Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE |  |
Question answered Woodruff erases McEnroe’s doubts, helps U.S. advance
Posted: Sunday February 06, 2000 09:50 PM
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) -- There were many firsts in the American Davis Cup come-from-behind win over Zimbabwe. It was the first time the squad had played in Africa. The first time Chris Woodruff - whose surprise victory over Wayne Black prevented a first-round ouster of the Americans - had ever played in the Davis Cup. The first time its doubles team played together. But perhaps most of all, it was John McEnroe's debut as non-playing captain of the team. And, not surprisingly, it was also the first time McEnroe as captain received an official warning for using foul language while protesting a line call. When the America team, missing Pete Sampras and Todd Martin because of injury and illness, went into Sunday's two singles matches, disaster seemed imminent, with Zimbabwe leading 2-1. In order for the United States to advance to the next round, Andre Agassi had to beat Byron Black and debutante Chris Woodruff had to hold his own against Byron's brother Wayne.
Going all-out in Harare's 5,000-foot (1,500-meter) altitude and humidity, Agassi used powerful ground strokes to sweep away Byron Black 6-2, 6-3, 7-6 (4). After Agassi hit an inside-out shot totake match point, he retreated to a corner of the court and threw up. Later, in the locker room, Agassi suffered severe vomiting and cramping, said a team doctor, George Fareed. Then it was Woodruff's turn. He had lost his singles match Friday against Byron Black in straight sets and was the underdog against Wayne Black. But Woodruff smothered the Zimbabwean 6-3, 6-7 (2), 6-2, 6-4, with powerful baseline hitting, effective volleys and 15 aces - one of which emphatically ended the match. Almost 4,000 Zimbabwean fans came to cheer their team. During the match Sunday, McEnroe constantly popped out of his chair to argue line calls and to shout out encouragement to Woodruff. At one point, like the McEnroe of old, he even received a "captain's warning" for using foul language. "I've aged like five years in a week," McEnroe told a news conference after the matches. For Zimbabwe, the defeat was bitter, but it gave notice that the country has a strong Davis Cup team. The team was on the verge of beating the United States and also trounced Chile and its star Marcelo Rios last year. "We were so close, and it's a great disappointment," said Wayne Black. He also complained to reporters about McEnroe's "disgraceful" behavior, saying he had made cutting remarks and that his complaints about line calls had delayed play. Agassi watched the end of the second match on TV from his hotel room, where he was recovering. "I'm so proud of the team and the way they left their hearts on the court," he said. McEnroe said he was dedicating the weekend competition to Arthur Ashe, who died seven years ago on Sunday of AIDS, and to early tennis great Don Budge, who died on Jan. 26 at age 84. It was a poignant dedication in a country which is suffering through an AIDS epidemic along with the rest of southern Africa.
The American team next faces the Czech Republic at home in April.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
