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| April 6, 2002 | Saturday | Muharram 22, 1423 |
Russia on top of Sweden
MOSCOW, April 5: Russia took a massive step towards the Davis Cup semifinals on Friday, seizing a 2-0 lead in their quarter-final clash with Sweden.
Both Marat Safin and Yevgeny Kafelnikov were in scintillating form, winning their singles ties in straight sets.
The pair unite for Saturday’s doubles against Johansson and Jonas Bjorkman in a match which could see them through to the last four of the men’s team event.
Kafelnikov crushed Thomas Enqvist 7-6 6-3 6-1 in less than two hours after Marat Safin had earlier wreaked revenge on Thomas Johansson, beating the Swede 6-4 6-4 6-4.
Johansson beat Safin in the final of the Australian Open at the start of the year but was no match for the mighty Russian on Friday.
Former world number one and 2000 U.S. Open champion Safin made the most of his fast pace and the clay court at Moscow’s Luzhniki Sports Palace.
“Thomas plays better on hard courts. I have more experience on clay,” Safin said afterwards.
After winning the second set with some stylish play, an increasingly-confident Safin gradually wore down his opponent to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.
Kafelnikov, desperate for a Davis Cup winners medal to round off his career, fulfilled his part of the deal.
After a tight first set, Kafelnikov grew in confidence and ran away with the match.
“The tiebreak was really tense, prompting him to make mistakes,” Kafelnikov said.
“After I won the first set, I felt my confidence return and I was virtually dictating the pace of the match from then.”
Kafelnikov pulled away after the second set, cruising through the third in less than half an hour.
The winning side will play either Argentina or Croatia for a place in the 2002 Davis Cup Final.
WORLD GROUP
Quarterfinals:
Russia lead Sweden 2-0 :
Marat Safin beat Thomas Johansson 6-4 6-4 6-4; Yevgeny Kafelnikov beat Thomas Enqvist 7-6 (8-6) 6-3 6-1
France lead Czech Republic 1-0
Sebastien Grosjean beat Bohdan Ulihrach 6-3 3-6 0-6 6-3 6-1
ASIAN/OCEANIA ZONE GROUP ONE (SECOND ROUND)
New Zealand level India 1-1
Thailand level Japan 1-1
ASIA/OCEANIA ZONE GROUP TWO (RELEGATION PLAYOFFS)
Indonesia lead Lebanon 2-0
Uzbekistan level South Korea 1-1
ASIA/OCEANIA ZONE GROUP TWO (RELEGATION PLAYOFFS)
Hong Kong lead Malaysia 2-0
Philippines level Kuwait 1-1 —Reuters
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