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Men's Tennis
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Women's Tennis
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| Friday, February 9 |
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| Kuerten overcomes poor start to beat Alami Reuters | |||
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RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- Moroccan No. 1 Hicham
Arazi retired hurt in the second singles against Fernando
Meligeni to leave Brazil 2-0 ahead in their Davis Cup world
group first round on Friday.
Earlier, Gustavo Kuerten overcame Karim Alami in an epic
five-set encounter, winning 6-7, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 in just under
four hours.
Arazi was forced to quit after the seventh game of the
fourth set with cramp in his leg.
After racing 3-0 ahead in the fourth set, he slowed
considerably, lost four successive games and was treated twice
before finally giving in. Meligeni led 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 4-3 at the
time.
Meligeni said he had worried about falling victim to the
searing tropical heat himself as he threw-away a three-game lead
on his way to losing the second set.
"I thought I was going to drop," he admitted. "It was very
hot, my head was exploding. I felt tired and slow but I pulled
through."
"One moment, I was hitting the ball well, then the heat and
the pressure come and anything could have happened."
Kuerten, the world's top player last year, made a slow start
and trailed his 65th-ranked opponent by two sets to one.
The Brazilian, who started the season with a shock second
round defeat in the Australian Open, produced a string of
unforced errors early on, then coasted through the last two sets
for the loss of only three games.
"I was short of rhythm," said Kuerten. "I began badly but I
fought hard, and that is what matters in the Davis Cup. I think
I can improve a lot."
Kuerten hinted that he preferred not to play in Saturday's
doubles, suggesting that Alexandre Simoni could take his place
alongside Davis Cup stalwart Jaime Oncins. "Now could be a good
opportunity to see if this pair works," he said.
Arazi's injury could also give Younes Al Aynaoui, who was
surprisingly left out of the original line-up, a chance to play
alongside Alami on Saturday.
He had slowed considerably during the set and was treated on
two occasions before finally giving in. Meligeni led 6-4, 5-7, 6-3,
4-3 at the time. | |
ALSO SEE Gambill pulls U.S. even against Switzerland Netherland's Sluiter shocks Spain Haas crushes Moldovan while Kiefer falls Rafter, Hewitt give Australia 2-0 lead against Ecuador Davis Cup results Morocco faces Kuerten and unruly crowd in Davis Cup tie Ulihrach puts Czechs ahead against Sweden Clement fights back to give France early lead Russia, Slovakia split singles matches | |
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