TENNIS DAVIS CUP : Gilbert Gives U.S. Singles a Split

Brad Gilbert of the United States defeated Mexico’s Leonardo Lavalle in a 3 1/2-hour match Friday, leaving the teams tied at the end of opening-day singles in Davis Cup first-round competition at Mexico City.

Gilbert defeated Lavalle, 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (7-4), 6-3, after Luis Enrique Herrera gave Mexico the first point by beating Jim Courier, 6-4, 2-6, 7-5, 6-4.

Doubles play, matching Jim Pugh and Rick Leach against Jorge Lozano and Lavalle, was scheduled for today with reverse singles on Sunday.

The winner of the U.S.-Mexico competition plays Spain.

“If I didn’t win this match today, we would have been in big trouble,” Gilbert said.

“I started out all right. The first couple of sets were a little shaky. After that his (Lavalle’s) game started going down,” Gilbert said. “I relaxed, and had a lot of confidence, and I told myself, ‘You’re going to win this game’--and I didn’t let go.”

Lavalle complained bitterly about the crowd, which he said insulted him.

“I think they enjoyed themselves,” said Gilbert, who was pelted with candy a couple times. “They weren’t as bad as they were here in 1986. Also, in this heat it’s hard to believe they’re drinking alcohol. “

Lavalle said his game was “obviously bad,” his worst in Davis Cup play.

Gilbert said the altitude didn’t bother him as it had Courier in the first match.

“It was difficult,” Courier said. “It is my first Davis singles--and the altitude.”

Courier’s match lasted 3 hours 45 minutes under a blazing sun that raised the temperature to 88 in Mexico City’s 7,250-foot altitude.

“After the first set I didn’t feel nervous,” Courier said. “I had to rip him, but I couldn’t. At sea level I would have been able to do it. But he is very short and he is very quick.

“In the second set I felt pretty confident . . . but it slipped away from me. I never felt comfortable hitting the ball, I felt I had to hold back a little, especially in the passing shot and smashes,” Courier said.

Herrera said the victory was his biggest as a pro. “My strategy was to keep close to the net and pressure him with my backhand, since I knew that he wouldn’t feel sure of himself in Mexico,” he said.

In another first-round World Group match, France took a 2-0 lead over Israel. In the quarterfinal round, Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia are tied, 1-1.