Tennis Roundup : Australia About to Oust U.S. in Davis Cup

Pat Cash guided Australia to the brink of the Davis Cup finals Saturday, scoring a singles victory over Tim Mayotte and then, with partner John Fitzgerald, taking a 2-sets-to-1 lead over Ken Flach and Paul Annacone in the doubles match against the United States at Brisbane.

Cash began the day by completing a 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 triumph over Mayotte in a singles match that had been halted by rain Friday. That win gave the Australians a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series.

He then teamed with Fitzgerald to lead Flach and Annacone, 10-8, 6-1, 5-7, when play was halted for the day because of approaching darkness.

The Australians are trying to win the trophy for the 26th time overall and are seeking their first Davis Cup win over the United States in 13 years. The United States last won the trophy in 1982.

At Palermo, Sicily, top-seeded Ulf Stenlund of Sweden and Peru’s Pablo Arraya advanced to the final of the Sicilian championship.

Stenlund knocked out Simone Colombo of Italy, 6-3, 6-7, 6-2, while third-seeded Arraya beat Italy’s Claudio Mezzadri, 6-1, 6-2.