07 January 2004	Wednesday	14 Ziqa'ad 1424

PERTH, Jan 6: Shorn of his trademark dreadlocks and playing in borrowed clothes, James Blake battled past Jiri Novak 4-6 6-1 7-5 on Tuesday to hand the U.S. victory over the Czech Republic in the Hopman Cup.

Earlier, Lindsay Davenport - a late replacement for Serena Williams who partnered Blake to the title here last year - put the Americans ahead with a 6-4 6-3 win over Barbora Strycova.

The Americans also teamed up to win the mixed doubles 6-3 6-2. In the first match of the night session, Daniela Hantuchova's poor early season form dipped further as she lost 6-0 7-6 to unheralded Hungarian Petra Mandula. But her Slovak partner Karol Kucera came to her rescue, beating Attila Savolt 6-3 7-5 to keep the tie alive. The Slovaks then won the decisive mixed doubles 6-3 6-1.

Former world number one Davenport made a tentative return to action after foot surgery last year. Blake's new look is partly down to charity - his locks will be auctioned at this month's Australian Open to raise money for a friend in the U.S. who runs an inner city basketball team - but he showed little goodwill to Novak despite looking rusty.

His vast arsenal of shots and maverick style came to his rescue, a flurry of winners flying from his racket at key moments. Solid as Novak is, he was unable to grind out a victory against a player who was at times inspired.

Blake thanked his sponsors' Australian arm for coming up with some clothes and shoes at the 11th hour to allow him to compete.

Results

Slovakia beat Hungary 2-1

Scores (Hungarian names first): Attila Savolt lost to Karol Kucera 3-6 5-7; Petra Mandula bt Daniela Hantuchova 6-0 7-6 (7-5); Savolt /Mandula lost to Kucera/Hantuchova 6-3 6-1

U.S. beat Czech Republic 3-0

Scores (U.S. names first): James Blake bt Jiri Novak 4-6 6-1 7-5; Lindsay Davenport bt Barbora Strycova 6-4 6-3; Blake/Davenport bt Novak/Strycova 6-3 6-2.

ATP Indian OpenM

CHENNAI: Jan 6: Results from the US$400,000 ATP Indian Open tennis tournament on Tuesday:

Men's singles (first round): Paradorn Srichaphan bt Albert Montanes 6-1, 6-3; Sjeng Schalken bt Danai Udomchoke 6-4, 7-5;Carlos Moya bt Noam Okum 6-3, 6-4.

Qatar ATP results

DOHA: Results in the US$1mr Qatar ATP event on Tuesday:

First round: Sebastien Grosjean bt Markus Hantschk 6-1, 7-5; Agustin Calleri bt Filippo Volandri 6-4, 6-4; Juan Ignacio Chela bt Olivier Rochus 6-1, 3-6, 7-5.-AFP