Tennis Roundup : India Beats Australia, 3-2, in Davis Cup Semifinal

Ramesh Krishnan defeated Wally Masur, 8-6, 6-4, 6-4, Sunday to give India an upset 3-2 victory over defending champion Australia in their Davis Cup tennis semifinal.

Krishnan rallied from 1-4 down in each of the first two sets to overcome Masur. Krishnan, a superb touch player, proved too consistent and determined for Masur, who appeared nervous in the 2-hour 5-minute match.

Earlier, John Fitzgerald defeated the 33-year-old Indian captain, Vijay Amritraj, 7-5, 6-3, 6-3, to lift Australia into a 2-2 tie.

India led, 2-0, after the opening singles matches Friday, then lost Saturday’s doubles as Pat Cash and Peter Doohan defeated Anand Amritraj and Srinivasan Vasudevan, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.

Cash, the Wimbledon champion, could not play singles because he injured his right knee in training. Cash said the injury would not stand up to two long singles matches.

India reached the Davis Cup challenge round in 1966 but lost, 4-1, to Australia, and also reached the final in 1974 but withdrew rather than play South Africa.

India will face either Sweden or Spain in the final in December. Sweden holds a 2-1 lead over the Spaniards in the semifinal at Barcelona. Sweden’s Mats Wilander and Anders Jarryd lost to Spain’s Emilio Sanchez and Sergio Casal, 6-0, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, Saturday.

Third-seeded Lori McNeil broke second-seeded Zina Garrison’s serve twice in the opening three games, then went on to a 6-2, 6-4 semifinal victory in the Virginia Slims of New Orleans.

Today’s final will pit McNeil against top-seeded Chris Evert, who advanced when Wendy Turnbull injured a toe and forfeited the match in the first set with Evert leading, 3-2.

McNeil upset Evert last month in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open.