19 May 2004	Wednesday	28 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425

DUESSELDORF, May 18: Defending champions Chile face hosts Germany on Thursday for a place in the World Team Cup final after both countries stayed unbeaten on Tuesday.

Fernando Gonzalez beat Spain's Alex Corretja to seal the red group tie for Chile after Albert Costa had limped out of the opening rubber and conceded victory to Nicolas Massu.

Massu and Adrian Garcia then completed a 3-0 win for Chile with victory in the doubles. Rainer Schuettler and Nicolas Kiefer secured victory for Germany over the Czech Republic by winning their singles rubbers, although they lost in the later doubles.

The results leave Germany and Chile together at the top of the tournament's red group with a head-to-head decider for a place in Saturday's final awaiting them on Thursday.

"We want to make the final but the game against Germany will be very tough," said Chile's Gonzalez, who has never lost in 10 games at the World Team Cup. "They have very good players who are playing well and the crowd will be for them but we are playing well and it will be a very interesting match," he added.

Gonzalez beat Corretja 6-4 3-6 6-2 after Costa retired at 4-1 down to Massu in the first set of their tie. Garcia and Massu beat Corretja and Feliciano Lopez 6-3 6-3 in the doubles.

Schuettler claimed a 6-4 6-3 win over Jiri Novak and Kiefer was equally convincing in beating Radek Stepanek 7-6 6-3. Novak and Stepanek restored some pride in the doubles with a 6-2 7-5 victory.

Germany's win means the Czech Republic, beaten finalists in 2003, cannot reach the final and Kiefer believes the manner of the victory shows how seriously the host nation takes the event.

"We have big plans for this tournament so you get a little nervous," said Kiefer. "Our priority is here, not the French Open, and that shows in the way we have played. "Thursday is a (German) holiday so the atmosphere will be great and the crowd has contributed to our success so far."

The tournament's blue group resumes play on Wednesday with joint leaders Australia and Argentina playing the Netherlands and United States respectively. Earlier on Monday, Australia defeated the United States and Argentina swept past the Netherlands as the blue group got underway at the World Team Cup.

Mark Philippoussis and Lleyton Hewitt were victorious in their singles rubbers for Australia before Wayne Arthurs and Paul Hanley lost the final dead doubles rubber against Bob and Mike Bryan 6-2, 6-4.

Argentina whitewashed the Netherlands with Mariano Zabaleta and Lucas Arnold adding victory in the end-of-day doubles rubber to wins for Gaston Gaudio and Juan Ignacio Chela in the singles.

Argentina completed their win in style when Zabaleta and Arnold beat Verkerk and John van Lottum 3-6 6-3 6-3.

Team Cup results

Red Group

Germany bt Czech Republic 2-1 (German names first) Rainer Schuettler bt Jiri Novak 6-4 6-3; Nicolas Kiefer bt Radek Stepanek 7-6 (7-4) 6-3; Rainer Schuettler/Nicolas Kiefer lost to Jiri Novak/Radek Stepanek 2-6 5-7.

Chile bt Spain 3-0 (Chile names first) Nicolas Massu bt Albert Costa 4-1 (Costa retired with leg injury); Fernando Gonzalez bt Alex Corretja 6-4 3-6 6-2; Adrian Garcia/Nicolas Massu bt Alex Corretja/ Feliciano Lopez 6-3 6-3.

St Polten ATP results

ST POLTEN: Results from the thrid day of the 375,750-euro ATP tournament on Tuesday:

First Round: Jurgen Melzer (AUT) bt Greg Rusedski (GBR) 6-2, 7-6 (7/1); Julian Knowle (AUT) bt Irakli Labadse (GEO x4) 7-5, 4-6, 6-2.

Second Round: Xavier Malisse (BEL) bt Hugo Armando (USA) 6-2, 6-2; Filippo Volandri (ITA) bt Raemon Sluiter (NED) 6-4, 6-2. -Agencies