Tennis Roundup : U.S. Takes 2-0 Lead in Davis Cup

John McEnroe defeated Guillermo Perez-Roldan, and Andre Agassi beat Martin Jaite Friday to give the United States a 2-0 lead over Argentina in the American Zone final of the Davis Cup at Buenos Aires.

McEnroe outlasted the 18-year-old Perez-Roldan, 6-2, 5-7, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, in a four-hour match, and the 18-year-old Agassi, the world’s fifth-ranked player, defeated Jaite, 6-2, 6-2, 6-1.

The United States can advance to World Group competition if Wimbledon doubles champions Ken Flach and Robert Seguso beat Cristian Miniussi and Javier Frana of Argentina today.

McEnroe’s erratic service hurt him throughout his match against Perez-Roldan, ranked 14th in the world. McEnroe, 29, the 17th-ranked player in the world, had to overcome 14 double faults.

Top-seeded Jimmy Connors needed only 55 minutes to eliminate 15th-seeded Jorge Lozano of Mexico, 6-1, 6-2, in a third-round match of the $415,000 Sovran Bank tournament at Washington, D.C.

The match was originally scheduled for Thursday night, but was rained out.Connors, 35, who will face No. 8 Jay Berger in the quarterfinals, will have to play two matches today, or the tournament final will be pushed to Monday.

In quarterfinal action, 16th-seeded Derrick Rostagno of Brentwood upset seventh-seeded Darren Cahill of Australia, 7-6, 6-4, and fourth-seeded Aaron Krickstein of Grosse Point, Mich., rallied to defeat 16-year-old Michael Chang of Placentia, 5-7, 7-5, 6-0.

Top-seeded Sylvia Hanika of West Germany and No. 2 Sandra Cecchini of Italy advanced to the semifinals of the Golden Racket championships at Aix-en-Provence, France. Hanika beat French junior Nathlie Guerree, 6-3, 6-1. Cecchini downed Spain’s Conchita Martinez, 6-3, 6-1.