U.S. Bolts to Early 2-0 Edge : Davis Cup: Sampras goes nearly 3 hours in beating Larsson, after Martin upsets Edberg in another 4-setter.

Pete Sampras has been telling all that he’s out of shape, hasn’t picked up a racket in weeks and only belatedly joined the U.S. Davis Cup team after fighting through his own lack of motivation.

He further telegraphed his state, upon arriving here, by saying he hoped he wouldn’t get into long rallies, lest he collapse.

Thus loaded with information, the Swedish team sent out Magnus Larsson with orders to keep the world’s No. 1 player on the court and running for as long as possible. It was a sound strategy and was undermined only by Larsson’s own display of power serving that made many points briefer than the Swedes preferred.

Larsson ultimately failed, however, as did his first serve. So, too, did his more-famous teammate, Stefan Edberg, as the U.S. took a 2-0 lead Friday after the first day of Davis Cup semifinal competition.

Sampras had to play for 2 hours 55 minutes, including two tiebreakers, but won, 6-7 (7-3), 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 (7-3).

In the first singles match of the day, Todd Martin wavered but overcame Edberg, 6-2, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3. Edberg’s performance was particularly disappointing to the Swedes, as he lurched along with a first serve that went in only 50% of the time.

The singles victories gave the United States a solid advantage going into today’s doubles match between Jared Palmer and Jonathan Stark and Jan Apell and Jonas Bjorkman of Sweden. The last time the United States team lost a 2-0 Davis Cup lead was against Italy in 1960.

Sampras was heavily favored, his fitness notwithstanding. The fast indoor surface installed in the Scandinavium Arena, put there to benefit Edberg’s style, also favored Sampras’ serve-and-volley game. But for much of the match, it was Larsson, ranked 34th in the world, who prospered on the surface.

The serving of the 6-foot 5 Larsson was remarkable in the opening set, when he got in 88% of his first serves, including nine aces. Larsson won 27 consecutive points on his serve to end the first set.

Sampras acknowledged that most of the Swede’s serves were “unreturnable.” He discussed the situation with U.S. captain Tom Gullikson during changeovers, and Gullikson’s advice was to wait him out and hope that Larsson’s serve mellowed.

Even Larsson knew that had to happen eventually.

“I can’t serve better than I did in the first set,” he said. “Of course, I knew the percentage would sink.”

The slowdown was barely perceptible, particularly since Sampras was also serving well. Larsson won the ace race, 21 to 17. In fact, both players were holding serve with such authority that the first break point--against Larsson--came in the third game of the second set. Sampras’ break in that game was all he needed to win the set.

That setback stimulated the sparse crowd, announced at 5,500. Compared to the sometimes hellish receptions visiting teams receive during Davis Cup matches, the reception accorded the United States was hospitable. Vague attempts at clapping and cheers that lasted longer than the changeover period were quickly shushed by umpire Andreas Egli.

Sampras started to find openings in the third set, as both players began to miss first serves, a byproduct of fatigue. Sampras broke in the first and fifth games, but Larsson broke back in the sixth. Larsson appeared especially vulnerable and lost his serve in the next game. Sampras served an ace to close out the set.

Sampras desperately wanted to win the fourth set because he wasn’t at all certain he would last through a fifth.

“I’m happy it went four sets, let’s put it that way,” Sampras told reporters. “I’d rather be here, talking to you guys, than out there playing.”

Yet Sampras frittered away chances to end the match sooner. Larsson was shaky on serve in the seventh game and Sampras failed to capitalize, then two aces by Larsson in the 11th ensured a tiebreaker if Sampras held his serve.

Sampras controlled the tiebreaker, showing the kind of dominance at the net that had only been glimpsed elsewhere in the match. His elation after the victory was real and he high-fived his teammates while regaining his breath.

Still, Larsson took nearly three hours out of Sampras’ precious stores of energy, but he may not need anymore if Palmer and Stark win. That would reduce Sunday’s singles to meaningless best-of-three exhibitions.

Edberg’s loss in the first match was a blow to the Swedish team. Even though the players are close in rankings--Edberg is No. 5 and Martin No. 6--it was believed that Edberg’s experience and poise would prove to be superior.

The Swede’s assured presence and Martin’s Davis Cup inexperience bedeviled the American at times. Martin acknowledged he was intimidated by the entire situation. His first Davis Cup match was against India, a team of decidedly lesser pedigree. Still, Martin felt overwhelmed.

“I was down, and I pride myself on not getting down,” he said. “In this situation, I was a little intimidated, both by the idea that I could put the U.S. down, 1-0, and with the way Stefan was playing.”

Martin took the first set but found no solace in it. His serve was broken twice in a losing second set and Edberg won seven consecutive games before Martin held in the third game of the third set. Gullikson found he needed to take full advantage of Davis Cup rules that allow coaching.

Gullikson told Martin only positive things, choosing his words carefully. Martin changed his serve and persevered. Edberg collapsed in the fourth set and Martin became the unlikely hero for the U.S. team, giving Sampras a cushion of victory before his match.