U.S., Czechs Split Davis Cup Match

Last-minute replacement Petr Korda ambushed Brad Gilbert in three quick sets today to give Czechoslovakia a 1-1 tie in its quarterfinal Davis Cup clash with the United States.

In the opening match in Prague, Aaron Krickstein took advantage of wildness by tiring Milan Srejber of Czechoslovakia to win a five-set battle that lasted nearly four hours, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (4-7), 6-3.

Korda, a wiry left-hander who was named to play singles for Czechoslovakia when Davis Cup veteran Miloslav Mecir withdrew with a back pain, needed just one hour, 44 minutes to defeat Gilbert 6-2, 6-3, 6-3.

Korda, ranked 26th in the world, kept Gilbert off balance with his hard serve and kept the fifth-ranked American running from side to side until he had a chance to hit a winning shot.

The doubles team of Rick Leach and Jim Pugh, ranked No. 1 in the world, faces Czechoslovakia’s Tomas Smid and Karel Novacek on Saturday. The reverse singles matches, with Krickstein taking on Korda and Gilbert playing Srejber, will be held on Sunday.

The survivor of the series will advance to the semifinals in September against the winner of this weekend’s contest between Austria and Italy.

Elsewhere, Wally Masur beat Kelly Evernden today in straight sets at Brisbane, Australia, to lift Australia into tie with New Zealand in the World Group quarterfinal at Milton Tennis Center. Masur triumphed 6-3, 7-6 (7-0), 6-1, dominating Evernden with a powerful serve-and-volley game.

Mark Kratzmann and Darren Cahill of Australia will play Evernden and David Lewis in the doubles on Saturday, with the reverse singles slated for Sunday.

India won both of today’s singles matches against Japan at Chandigarh, India, to take a 2-0 lead in the opening round of the Asia-Oceania zone contest.

In the first match, Indian national champion Zeeshan Ali defeated Hidehiko Tanizawa in straight sets 6-4, 6-2, 6-3. Srinivasan Vasudevan won the second match for India, beating Shuzo Matsuoka 6-4, 6-1, 7-6 (8-6).

And in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Hong Kong took a 2-0 lead over Malaysia in today’s second round Asia-Oceania match.

Mark Bailey defeated V. Selvam 0-6, 6-2, 6-4, 2-6, 8-6 and Colin Grant defeated U. Muralidharan 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.

The two countries play the doubles match on Saturday and the reverse singles on Sunday.

Playing in Shanghai, China defeated the Philippines in both opening singles matches in today’s first-round of the Asia-Oceania group.

Xia Jiaping outlasted Roland So in a four-hour, 40-minute match 4-6, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2, and Pan Bing defeated last-minute replacement Danilo Pila 6-0, 6-0, 6-0. Pila replaced Felix Barrientos, who withdrew because of illness.