U.S. Rally at World Cup Tennis Shuts Out Swiss

Tim Mayotte and Aaron Krickstein both lost first sets but rallied to lead the United States past Switzerland at the World Team Cup tennis tournament today.

Mayotte overcame Jakob Hlasek 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, while Krickstein outlasted Claudio Mezzadri 5-7, 6-4, 6-0.

Already holding an unbeatable 2-0 lead, the U.S. team completed a 3-0 sweep in its opening group match when Rick Leach and Jim Pugh beat Jakob Hlasek and Heinz Guenthardt 6-3, 6-4 in the doubles.

W. Germany Beats Spain

In the other Blue Group match, West Germany, using the same team that won the Davis Cup last season, beat Spain 2-1.

Boris Becker, ranked second in the world, beat Javier Sanchez 6-3, 6-3 to put West Germany ahead.

Spain pulled even when Jordi Arrese, a semifinalist at last week’s Italian Open, upset Carl-Uwe Steeb 6-3, 6-3.

The West Germans clinched their opening match when Becker and Eric Jelen defeated Sanchez and Sergio Casal 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 in the decisive doubles.

The eight teams taking part in the weeklong tournament are split into two groups. After a round-robin competition, the two top teams from each group advance to the semifinals.

In the Red Group on Monday, Sweden trounced Czechoslovakia 3-0 and Argentina beat Australia 2-1.

In Geneva, top-seeded Chris Evert defeated qualifier Sabine Hack of West Germany 6-3, 7-6 (8-6) today in the first round of the Geneva European Open women’s tennis tournament.

In earlier first-round action, U.S. qualifier Shaun Stafford ousted second-seeded Natalia Zvereva of the Soviet Union 6-3, 7-6 (6-3).

But Zvereva, last year’s French Open surprise finalist and currently ranked fifth in the world, did not seem overly disappointed.

Entered in Doubles

“I entered the tournament to play the doubles,” the 18-year-old Zvereva said. “I didn’t know that the WITA (Women’s International Tennis Assn.) rules say you can’t play only doubles at a tournament.

“I was surprised to play the singles, though it’s not the only reason for my defeat since I was never really sure of my shots.”

Stafford, 20, of Gainesville, Fla., is ranked 92nd worldwide and has been a pro only since February.

“It was my biggest win but not my best match. I was pleased that I wasn’t as nervous as usual,” she said.

Also upset in first-round play was seventh-seeded Sandra Cecchini of Italy, who lost to Karin Kschwendt of Luxembourg 6-2, 3-6, 7-5.

Defending champion Barbara Paulus of Austria advanced to the second round with a 6-2, 6-1 rout of South Africa’s Dinky Van Rensburg.