FLORIANOPOLIS, Brazil Australia took a
2-1 lead over Brazil in their Davis Cup quarter-final on
Saturday after Patrick Rafter and Lleyton Hewitt won three
tiebreaks to beat Gustavo Kuerten and Jamie Oncins.
Rafter and Hewitt won 7-6 (9-7) 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-5) to
avenge Rafter's loss to Kuerten in Friday's opening singles when
he had to retire in the fourth set with a sore elbow.
Australia captain John Fitzgerald sprang a last-minute
surprise by replacing Wayne Arthurs with Hewitt. The move paid
off as Hewitt hit a series of winning smashes and volleys at the
net.
"It's easy to get carried away, but I can't remember seeing
anything in doubles that was better than that, certainly in the
last decade," Fitzgerald said.
The win left Australia poised to repeat their semifinal win
at home to Brazil last year as they aim for a third successive
Davis Cup final.
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Davis Cup results
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