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| February 14, 2006 | Tuesday | Muharram 15, 1427 |
Davis Cup: Australia, US in last eight
LONDON, Feb 13: Australian newcomer Chris Guccione steered his country to a 3-2 victory over Switzerland in their Davis Cup World Group first round tie on Sunday. The 20-year-old, playing only his second Davis Cup tie, comprehensively beat George Bastl in the fifth rubber to put the 28-times champions into the quarterfinals.
Belarus, along with holders Croatia, Argentina, Chile, France and Russia, had made sure of their progress after Saturday’s doubles rubbers. The United States joined them on Sunday when Andy Roddick eased past replacement Razvan Sabau to give his side a winning 3-1 lead over Romania in San Diego.
Former world number one Roddick, who vomited on court during his five-set defeat by Andrei Pavel, won 6-3 6-3 6-2 against the world number 112. Australia’s Guccione beat Bastl 7-5 6-3 7-6 after Stanislas Wawrinka had kept the hosts, minus world number one Roger Federer, in the running with a win over Peter Luczak to level the score at 2-2.
Wawrinka, showing little sign of tiring on his third straight day on the indoor clay had overpowered his rival 6-4 6-2 6-7 6-2 at Geneva’s Palexpo Arena. Holders Croatia, under the leadership of player captain Ivan Lubicic, lost the final two dead singles rubbers against Austria for a 3-2 win in Graz.
Austrian Alexander Peya saw off world number 355 Ivan Cerovic 4-6 6-2 6-4 and Stefan Koubek defeated former junior number one Marin Cilic 6-1 7-5. Croatia have a home tie in April’s quarterfinals against Argentina, who completed a 5-0 whitewash over Sweden.
The other quarterfinal will be between France and the country that beat them in the 2002 final, Russia. Russia beat the Netherlands 5-0 and France beat Germany 3-2 after the home side salvaged some pride by winning the dead singles rubbers on Sunday. All the quarterfinal ties take place from Apr 7 to 9.—Agencies
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