Safin clinches Davis Cup title for Russia

Admitting he was downright scared, Marat Safin composed himself and won the Davis Cup title for Russia.

The two-time Grand Slam champion had 16 aces in beating Jose Acasuso, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5), on Sunday in the fifth and deciding match, giving Russia a 3-2 decision over Argentina for its second Davis Cup crown.

“There were some very difficult moments today,” Safin said. “It was tough to control the match. Everything worked out.”

Safin lost his singles match Friday, blaming the indoor carpet at Olympic Stadium. But nothing stopped him Sunday.

“This is probably the most important win in the last two years,” Safin said.

David Nalbandian, who beat Safin on Friday, won the opening reverse singles match Sunday to make it 2-2. The eighth-ranked Argentine downed Nikolay Davydenko, 6-2, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4, to put Safin on the spot.

This was the first time Russia won the Davis Cup at home. Sweden topped the host Russians in the 1994 final, and the U.S. beat them a year later.

Russia won its only previous title four years ago in France. Argentina lost in its only previous final, to the United States in 1981.

Safin had drawn Juan Ignacio Chela, but Argentina captain Alberto Mancini replaced him with Acasuso, who had not yet played in the final and was unbeaten in his four previous Davis Cup matches this year.

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WINTER SPORTS

Swede wins first slalom

Sweden’s Andre Myhrer delivered two high-risk runs in an aggregate time of 1 minute 48.60 seconds in Beaver Creek, Colo., to win a men’s slalom for his first career World Cup victory.

Bode Miller, who won his first World Cup downhill in two years Friday, left the course 37 seconds into his run.

Canada’s Michael Janyk climbed from fifth after the opening run into second for the first World Cup podium result of his career, clocking 1:49.33.

Felix Neureuther of Germany finished in 1:50.00 to also collect his first top-three result.

Austria’s Renate Goetschl won the first super-G of the World Cup season in 1:20.86, with Lindsey Kildow the runner-up in 1:21.73 in Lake Louise, Canada.

Kelly VanderBeek was third in 1:21.77, becoming the first Canadian woman to reach the Lake Louise podium since racing began there in 1989.

Gregor Schlierenzauer, a 16-year-old Austrian, had jumps of 134 and 137 meters for 276 points to win his first World Cup ski jumping competition in his second start on the circuit in Lillehammer, Norway.

Austria’s Christoph Bieler edged Anssi Koivuranta of Finland by 1.2 seconds on the final straightaway to win a World Cup Nordic combined sprint in 17:30.08 in Lillehammer.

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GOLF

McNeill takes lead in qualifier

After a short stint as a club pro, George McNeill shot a five-under 67 at PGA West in La Quinta to take a two-stroke lead into the final round of the PGA Tour’s final qualifying tournament.

The top 30 players and ties today will earn PGA Tour cards for next year.

Jim Furyk closed with a two-over 74 for a 12-under 276 total to win the Nedbank Challenge for the second straight year, earning $1.2 million with a two-stroke victory over Sweden’s Henrik Stenson in an unofficial event in Sun City, South Africa.

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MISCELLANY

Cal edges USC in water polo

Jeff Tyrrell scored as time expired to lift California to its 12th NCAA men’s water polo championship with a 7-6 victory over USC at Loyola Marymount.

USC’s Thomas Hale had tied it with two seconds left.

Brian Bacharach had two goals for the Bears (31-4) and Juan Delgadillo had two for the Trojans (26-2). Cal trailed, 4-2, but scored four straight goals for a 6-4 lead. USC came back on a goal by J.W. Krumpholz with 2:40 remaining and Hale’s goal.

The Atlanta Braves signed right-hander Tanyon Sturtze, 36, to a one-year, $750,000 contract with $800,000 in incentives, hoping he can recover from May 23 rotator cuff surgery.