Davis Cup heroes emerge in weekend action

America's Andy Roddick carried the weight of a nation on his 19-year-old shoulders, Fabrice Santoro saved France with a vintage performance and Argentina scraped into their first semifinal since 1990 after a see-saw weekend of Davis Cup action.

Daring to be different, the Russian pairing of Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Marat Safin refused to hang around, however, and tied up their quarter-final against Sweden with a day to spare.

The Russians now wait to host the Argentines in September's semifinals.

Having never beaten seven-times champions Sweden coming into the tie, Kafelnikov and Safin turned history on its head and swept into an unassailable 3-0 lead by Saturday evening.

"Now the work is done we can celebrate," grinned Safin after the decisive doubles victory.

But for the U.S., champions France and Argentina, the celebrations had to wait until the final day of team action.

On the grass courts of the Westside Tennis Club, Roddick maintained his 100 percent Cup record with two singles victories after seven-times Wimbledon champion Pete Sampras had earlier in the fixture lost in one of the biggest shocks in the event's history.

Grasscourt master Sampras let a two-sets-to-love lead slip against baseliner Alex Corretja on the opening day to hand Spain a lifeline after Roddick had earlier beaten Tommy Robredo put them 1-0 up.

HOME FANS

The three hour 56 minute 4-6, 4-6, 7-6, 7-5, 6-4 win by Corretja was only his fourth on grass in a 12-year career.

"I would like to be in Europe when the people there read in the morning that Corretja beat Sampras on grass," the Spaniard said afterwards.

Sampras was looking for his 100th win on grass. The defeat was only the second time he had lost a five-set match on the fast surface.

Corretja, however, injured himself in that match and was forced to pull out of Saturday's doubles, which Spain then lost.

He could not play in the second singles either and Roddick overwhelmed substitute Alberto Martin 6-2, 6-4, 6-2.

The American went into a frenzy after clinching the tie, diving onto his back and then running around the court to the delight of the home fans.

"I have to go with what I feel. I can't control myself," he said. "There's no other feeling like having the crowd behind you."

France, who will host the U.S. in September's semifinals, had their own hero to fete after singles substitute Fabrice Santoro stepped up at the last minute and pulled off a five-set match-winning victory over the Czech Republic's Bohdan Ulihrach.

Santoro, the French team's doubles specialist, wrestled with Ulihrach for four hours and 15 minutes before finally taming him 7-6, 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3 in the second reverse singles.

Santoro, who helped France to a 2-1 lead when he partnered Michael Llodra on Saturday, replaced the injured Nicolas Escude on the final day.

EMOTIONAL VICTORY

The emotional victory was reminiscent of Santoro's first when he beat Australia's Wally Masur in Nimes in 1991 earning his first cap.

"It's great. It takes me back 11 years. I still have this victory in my mind," an exhausted Santoro said on Sunday. "The atmosphere was just the same."

Coach Guy Forget was thrilled by Santoro's performance. "It's fantastic to have had Fabrice in the singles. He was only considered a doubles player," he said.

"He has been waiting for this opportunity for five or six years. And today he gave it his all and he won."

Santoro had not played a singles match in the Davis Cup since the playoff against Belgian Filip Dewulf when France were relegated from the World Group in 1997.

On Sunday, the Frenchman at last got his chance to make amends and did not disappoint.

Argentina also kept their feverish fans on tenterhooks until the fifth and final match of the tie before finally beating an under-strength Croatia 3-2.

Gaston Gaudio won the deciding match against Ivo Karlovic 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 in front of Argentine soccer great Diego Maradona.

Croatia's talisman and Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic had ruled himself out of the singles with a nagging shoulder injury but he did play in the doubles.

Ivanisevic inspired his nation by teaming up with Ivan Ljubicic to beat Lucas Arnold and Guillermo Canas 4-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-0, 8-6 -- saving a match point along the way.

Boosted by that staunch resistance, Ljubicic evened things up on Sunday beating Juan Ignacio Chela 6-3, 1-6, 7-6, 6-4 to give Croatia a chance to dream.

But Gaudio swiftly snuffed out any notions of an upset at the Buenos Aires Tennis Club, dominating Karlovic from the start.

"This is the happiest moment of my life, nothing compares to it," said Gaudio, who applauded Maradona when the former World Cup captain appeared in the arena.

"When I saw Diego, I told myself that everything was set up for me to win."

There were also two big upsets which went unnoticed as Finland defeated Italy 4-1 and Canada beat Chile 5-0, with Daniel Nestor defeating Marcelo Rios 7-6(1), 6-7(2), 6-3, 1-6, 7-5.

Nestor and Niemeier won five setters against Rios and Fernando Gonzales, and won the doubles the next day to upset Chile on the second day itself.

Both upsets were about as ridiculously unexpected as Sampras's defeat.

Weekend summary

Eighteen zonal ties in Groups I and II also took place from April 5 to 7, with many nations battling for promotion.

Seven nations have won Group I matches in their respective regions and will take part in the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group Qualifying Round between September 20 to 22: Finland, Zimbabwe, Romania, Belgium, Canada, Thailand and India. The eighth and final nation to take its place in the Qualifying Round will be the winner of the Venezuela v Ecuador tie, suspended until Monday morning due to rain.

In the World Group Qualifying Round, these eight nations will join those which lost their first round World Group ties in February - Australia, Brazil, Germany, Great Britain, Morocco, Netherlands, Slovak Republic and Switzerland - in a battle for the eight available places in the 2003 World Group. Eight of the 16 countries competing will be seeded, and the seedings will be announced on Tuesday, April 9. The Draw for the event follows on Wednesday, April 10 at 11:00 hours London time (GMT 10:00 hours).

Four nations have had less successful weekends, and as a result of losing their respective Group II play-off ties will be relegated to compete in a lower zonal group in 2003. Guatemala and Trinidad & Tobago will play in American Zone Group III next year, while Kuwait and Malaysia will play in Asia/Oceania Zone Group III.

Results
Euro/African Zone Group I - 2nd Round 5-7 April 2002

Finland defeated Italy 4-1
Venue: C.T. Rocco Polimeni, Reggio Calabria Surface: Clay - outdoors
Kim Tiilikainen (FIN) d. Davide Sanguinetti (ITA) 2-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-2, 75
Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) d. Giorgio Galimberti (ITA) 6-3, 6-2, 6-2
Lauri Kiiski/Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) d. Giorgio Galimberti/Mose Navarra (ITA) 6-3, 7-6(10), 6-3
Mose Navarra (ITA) d. Timo Nieminen (FIN) 6-3, 7-5
Kim Tiilikainen (FIN) d. Stefano Galvani (ITA) 6-3, 6-1

Zimbabwe defeated Belarus 4-1
Venue: Harare City Sports Centre, Harare
Surface: Hard - indoors
Vladimir Voltchkov (BLR) d. Byron Black (ZIM) 7-6(4), 6-3, 6-4
Wayne Black (ZIM) d. Max Mirnyi (BLR) 7-6(3), 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
Wayne Black/Kevin Ullyett (ZIM) d. Max Mirnyi/Vladimir Voltchkov (BLR) 6-3, 7-6(4), 4-6, 7-6(12)
Byron Black (ZIM) d. Max Mirnyi (BLR) 6-3, 7-5, 6-7(3), 6-3
Genius Chidzikwe (ZIM) d. Alexander Skrypko (BLR) 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3

Romania defeated Austria 5-0
Venue: Sala Sporturilor Constanta, Constanta
Surface: Carpet - indoors
Andrei Pavel (ROM) d. Jurgen Melzer (AUT) 6-1, 6-2, 6-4
Adrian Voinea (ROM) d. Stefan Koubek (AUT) 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-1
Andrei Pavel/Gabriel Trifu (ROM) d. Julian Knowle/Jurgen Melzer (AUT) 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-2
Andrei Pavel (ROM) d. Alexander Peya (AUT) 6-1, 7-6(9)
Victor Hanescu (ROM) v Jurgen Melzer (AUT) 6-4, 6-4

Belgium defeated Greece 5-0
Venue: Country Hall Adeps, Liege
Surface: Carpet - indoors
Xavier Malisse (BEL) d. Nikos Rovas (GRE) 6-0 7-6(4) 6-0
Olivier Rochus (BEL) d. Konstantinos Economidis (GRE) 7-6(4) 6-3 6-1
Gilles Elseneer/Tom Van Houdt (BEL) d. Konstantinos Economidis/Anastasios Vasiliadis (GRE) 6-7(4) 7-6(4) 7-6(1) 6-4
Gilles Elseneer (BEL) v Anastasios Vasiliadis (GRE) 6-2 6-2
Olivier Rochus (BEL) v Nikos Rovas (GRE) 7-5 6-3

American Zone Group I - 2nd Round - 5-7 April 2002

Venezuela ties Ecuador 2-2
Play suspended overnight due to rain; will restart 10:30am local time Monday
Venue: Complejo de Tenis Aeropuerto, Lara
Surface: Hard - outdoors
Jose de Armas (VEN) d. Luis Morejon (ECU) 6-4 6-3 4-6 6-2
Nicolas Lapentti (ECU) d. Jimy Szymanski (VEN) 3-6 6-3 7-5 3-6 6-4
Jose de Armas/Jimy Szymanski (VEN) d. Giovanni Lapentti/Nicolas Lapentti 7-5 6-2 7-6(7)
Nicolas Lapentti (ECU) d. Jose de Armas (VEN) 6-1 6-3 6-7(5) 4-6 6-3
Jimy Szymanski (VEN) v Luis Morejon (ECU) 4-3

Canada defeated Chile 5-0
Venue: The Corral, Calgary
Surface: Carpet - indoors
Daniel Nestor (CAN) d. Marcelo Rios (CHI) 7-6(1) 6-7(2) 6-3 1-6 7-5
Frederic Niemeyer (CAN) d. Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) 6-7(2) 7-6(2) 4-6 6-3 6-4
Daniel Nestor/ Frederic Niemeyer (CAN) d. Fernando Gonzalez/Hermes Gamonal (CHI) 6-3 6-0 6-2
Frank Dancevic (CAN) d. Guillermo Hormazabal (CHI) 6-1 6-4
Simon Larose (CAN) d. Hermes Gamonal (CHI) 6-3 7-6(5)

Asia/Oceania Zone Group I - 2nd Round - 5-7 April 2002

Thailand defeated Japan 4-1
Venue: Muang Thong Thani Complex, Bangkok
Surface: Hard - outdoors
Goichi Motomura (JPN) d. Paradorn Srichaphan (THA) 6-3 7-6(3) 6-1
Danai Udomchoke (THA) d. Takao Suzuki (JPN) 6-2 3-6 7-5 5-2 ret.
Vittaya Samrej/Narathorn Srichaphan (THA) d. Thomas Shimada/Takahiro Terachi (JPN) 1-6 2-6 6-4 3-2 ret.
Paradorn Srichaphan (THA) d. Takao Suzuki (JPN) 6-2 6-4 6-2
Danai Udomchoke (THA) d. Goichi Motomura (JPN) 7-5 6-2

India defeated New Zealand 4-1
Venue: Wellington Renouf Tennis Centre, Wellington
Surface: Hard - outdoors
Mark Nielsen (NZL) d. Harsh Mankad (IND) 6-4 6-0 6-1
Leander Paes (IND) d. Alistair Hunt (NZL) 6-3 6-4 6-4
Mahesh Bhupathi/Leander Paes (IND) d. James Shortall/Daniel Willman (NZL) 6-4 6-3 6-4
Leander Paes (IND)d. Mark Nielsen (NZL) 6-4 6-3 4-6 2-6 6-1
Harsh Mankad (IND) d. James Shortall (NZL) 7-5 6-3

Asia/Oceania Zone Group I - 2nd Round Play-Off - 5-7 April 2002

Uzbekistan defeated Korea 4-1
Venue: Yunus-Abad Tennis Complex, Tashkent
Surface: Hard - indoors
Hee-Seok Chung (KOR) d. Vadim Kutsenko (UZB) 6-2 6-4 4-6 6-1
Oleg Ogorodov (UZB) d. Seung-Bok Baek (KOR) 6-1 6-3 6-1
Vadim Kutsenko/Oleg Ogorodov (UZB) d. Dong-Hyun Kim/Hee-Seok Chung (KOR) 6-4 3-6 6-2 4-6 6-3
Oleg Ogorodov (UZB) d. Hee-Seok Chung (KOR) 6-7(2) 6-4 6-0 6-2
Vadim Kutsenko (UZB) d. Seung-Bok Baek (KOR) 7-6(4) 6-4

Indonesia defeated Lebanon 4-1
Venue: Pores Embong Sawo, Surabaya
Surface: Hard - outdoors
Suwandi Suwandi (INA) d. Patrick Chucri (LIB) 6-2 6-2 6-4
Febi Widhiyanto (INA) d. Ali Hamadeh (LIB) 6-4 6-1 6-0
Hendri Susilo Pramono/Bonit Wiryawan (INA) d. Patrick Chucri/Ali Hamadeh (LIB) 7-5 7-6(7) 6-4
Suwandi Suwandi (INA) d. Fady Youssef (LIB) 6-0 6-0
Patrick Chucri (LIB) d. Febi Widhiyanto (INA) 6-2 7-6(5)

American Zone Group II - 2nd Round - 5-7 April 2002

Peru defeated Paraguay 3-2
Final result not available at time of publication
Venue: Yacht & Golf Club Paraguayo, Lambare Surface: Clay - outdoors
Ramon Delgado (PAR) d. Ivan Miranda (PER) 6-3 7-5 6-4
Luis Horna (PER) d. Francisco Rodriguez (PAR) 7-6(6) 6-4 6-2
Luis Horna/Ivan Miranda (PER) d. Paulo Carvallo/Ramon Delgado (PAR) 6-4 7-6(7) 6-3
Luis Horna (PER) d. Ramon Delgado (PAR) 6-2 7-6(4) 7-5
Francisco Rodriguez (PAR) d. Mario Monroy (PER) 6-2 7-5

Uruguay ties Colombia 2-2
Venue: Parque Sijuani, Villavicencio
Surface: Clay - outdoors
Pablo Gonzalez (COL) d. Pablo Bianchi (URU) 7-5 4-6 6-0 6-2
Federico Dondo (URU) d. Michael Quinterro (COL) 7-6(4) 6-3 6-4
Marcelo Barboza/Federico Dondo (URU) d. Alejandro Falla/Carlos Salamanca (COL) 0-6 7-6(5) 6-4 6-4
Alejandro Falla (COL) d. Pablo Bianchi (URU) 6-2 7-5 7-5
Pablo Gonzalez (COL) v Federico Dondo (URU)

American Zone Group II - Play-Off - 5-7 April 2002

Netherland Antilles defeated Guatemala 3-2
Venue: Federacion Nacional de Tenis de Campo, Guatemala City
Surface: Hard - outdoors
Jean-Julien Rojer (AHO) d. Luis Perez (GUA) 6-3 6-7(4) 6-3 6-4
Jacobo Chavez (GUA) d. Elmar Gerth (AHO) 6-1 6-2 6-1
Elmar Gerth/Jean-Julien Rojer (AHO) d. Jacobo Chavez/Luis Perez (GUA) 7-6(5) 3-6 6-3 6-4
Jean-Julien Rojer (AHO) d. Jacobo Chavez (GUA) 6-1 6-4 6-3
Cristian Paiz (GUA) d. Raoul Behr (AHO) 6-2 6-3

Cuba defeated Trinidad & Tobago 5-0
Venue: Club Habana, Ciudad de Habana
Surface: Hard - outdoors
Ricardo Chile-Fonte (CUB) d. Shane Stone (TRI) 3-6 6-0 6-4 4-6 6-3
Lazaro Navarro-Batles (CUB) d. Ivor Grazette (TRI) 6-2 6-2 6-4
Lazaro Navarro-Batles/Sandor Martinez-Breijo (CUB) d. Shane Stone/Troy Stone (TRI) 6-1 4-6 6-3 7-5
Sandor Martinez-Brejio (CUB) v Shane Stone (TRI) 6-4 3-6 6-4
Yanquiel Medina Sobrino (CUB) v Troy Stone (TRI) 6-2 2-0 ret.

Asia/Oceania Zone Group II - 2nd Round - 5-7 April 2002

China, P.R. defeated Kazakhstan 3-2
Venue: Chongren Road Sports Centre, Wuhan
Surface: Hard - outdoors
Alexey Kedriouk (KAZ) d. Yu Wang (CHN) 6-3 6-2 6-7(4) 2-6 6-0
Dias Doskaraev (KAZ) d. Ben-Qiang Zhu (CHN) 2-6 6-3 6-3 6-4
Ran Xu/Shao-Xuan Zeng (CHN) d. Dias Doskaraev/Alexey Kedriouk (KAZ) 6-4 6-0 7-6(1)
Ben-Qiang Zhu (CHN) d. Alexey Kedriouk (KAZ) 3-6 7-6(3) 6-2 4-6 6-1
Yu Wang (CHN) d. Dias Doskaraev (KAZ) 6-4 6-3 6-1

Pakistan defeated Chinese Taipei 4-1
Venue: Punjab Tennis Coaching Centre, Lahore
Surface: Grass - outdoors
Aqeel Khan (PAK) d. Wei-Jen Cheng (TPE) 4-6 6-3 6-3 6-0
Aisam Ul-Haq Qureshi (PAK) d. Wen-Lung Chang (TPE) 7-6(5) 6-3 ret.
Aqeel Khan/Aisam Ul-Haq Qureshi (PAK) d. Chia-Che Liu/Simon Shen (TPE) 6-4 2-6 6-4 6-4
Aisam Ul-Haq Qureshi (PAK) d. Wei-Jen Cheng (TPE) 6-2 6-1
Simon Shen (TPE) d. Asim Shafik (PAK) 7-5 6-2

Asia/Oceania Zone Group II - Play-Off - 5-7 April 2002

Philippines defeated Kuwait 3-2
Venue: Philippine Columbian Association, Manila
Surface: Clay/shell - indoors
Johnny Arcilla (PHI) d. Musaad Al-Jazzaf (KUW) 7-6(4) 5-7 6-1 6-4
Mohammad Al-Ghareeb (KUW) d. Adelo Abadia (PHI) 7-5 6-3 7-5
Adelo Abadia/Johnny Arcilla (PHI) d. Hussain Al-Ashwak/Mohammad Al-Ghareeb (KUW) 4-6 6-3 7-6(4) 6-1
Mohammad Al-Ghareeb (KUW) d. Johnny Arcilla (PHI) 6-0 6-3 6-2
Adelo Abadia (PHI) d. Musaad Al-Jazzaf (KUW) 6-3 6-2 6-1

China Hong Kong defeated Malaysia 5-0
Venue: Victoria Park Centre Court, Hong Kong
Surface: Hard - indoors
Michael Brown (HKG) d. Yew Ming Si (MAS) 6-3 6-4 7-5
John Hui (HKG) d. Hazuan Hizan (MAS) 6-2 6-3 1-6 7-5
John Hui/Melvin Tong (HKG) d. Adam Jaya/Yew Ming Si (MAS) 3-6 6-4 7-6(3) 6-3
Hiu Tong Yu (HKG) d. Adam Jaya (MAS) 5-7 6-3 6-0
Michael Brown (HKG) d. Dannio Yahya (MAS) 6-0 7-5