U.S. Feels the Heat but Wins

Withstanding 101-degree heat and jeering fans, a weary Jim Courier beat Brazil’s Gustavo Kuerten in four sets Sunday to send the United States into the quarterfinals of the Davis Cup.

Courier was treated for dehydration after the match in which he dropped the third set and survived a tight tiebreaker in the fourth. He beat Brazil’s top player, 6-3, 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (13-11) in 3 hours 36 minutes.

“It was obviously a difficult and close match,” Courier said. “I was glad to have it go four sets. But if went five, I’m sure I would have outlasted him.”

The result assured the United States a victory in the best-of-five format, and the Americans will play at home against the Netherlands in the next round.

Behind Courier and MaliVai Washington, the United States won the two singles matches against Brazil on Friday and lost the doubles on Saturday.

In Sunday’s second match, which did not affect the outcome of the series and was reduced to a best-of-three sets, Alex O’Brien defeated Fernando Meligeni, 7-5, 7-6 (7-4), giving the United States a 4-1 victory. O’Brien replaced Washington, who has a knee injury.

The United States played this Davis Cup series without its top four players--No. 1 Pete Sampras, No. 4 Michael Chang, No. 12 Andre Agassi and No. 14 Todd Martin.

In the other quarterfinals, it will be Australia vs. Czech Republic, Sweden vs. South Africa and Spain vs. Italy.

At Sydney, Australia, the Aussies eliminated defending-champion France, 4-1. Sandon Stolle made his Davis Cup debut Sunday and he beat Cedric Pioline, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4, marking the first time a father (Fred Stolle) and son played Davis Cup for Australia. In France’s lone win, Arnaud Boetsch beat Pat Rafter, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5).

At Bucharest, Romania, the Netherlands won both reverse singles to beat Romania, 3-2. Paul Haarhuis beat Andrei Pavel, 6-3, 6-1, 6-2, in the clincher. In the first match, Jan Siemerink beat Adrian Voinea, 7-6 (8-6), 5-7, 6-7 (3-7), 7-6 (10-8), 6-4, to tie it for the Dutch.

At Prague, Czech Republic, the Czechs rallied past India, 3-2. Petr Korda beat Leander Paes, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4, 6-1, and Jiri Novak topped Mahesh Bhupati, 6-1, 6-4, 6-3.

At Lulea, Sweden, the Swedes beat Switzerland, 4-1. Thomas Enqvist beat Marc Rosset, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2, for an insurmountable 3-1 lead. Magnus Larsson, who missed last year’s final against France, downed Ivo Heuberger, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, in the final match.

At Durban, South Africa, the South Africa took a 3-0 lead over Russia and clinched advancement by winning the doubles Sunday. At Palma de Mallorca, Spain, the Spaniards defeated Germany, 4-1. Carlos Moya, playing in his hometown, beat Hendrik Dreekman, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5, and Albert Costa stopped Marc-Kevin Goellner of Germany, 2-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-1.

At Rome, Italy finished a 4-1 victory over Mexico as Renzo Furlan defeated Alejandro Hernandez, 6-2, 6-3, and Luis Herrera beat Omar Camporese, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.