DUESSELDORF, Germany, 20 May 2004 — Davis Cup holders Australia and 2002 winners Argentina are set to play off for a place in the final of the 2.1-million-euro ATP World Team Cup after both countries won their matches here yesterday.

Australia pounded the Netherlands in a powerful clay display, with Lleyton Hewitt and Mark Philippoussis putting their nation into a fight for the final.

Hewitt, the feisty former world No. 1 whose clay skills have been improving steadily this spring, saddled 2003 French Open finalist Martin Verkerk with a 1-6, 7-6 (7-2), 7-5 defeat as the pair of rivals exchanged words at the end.

It was pure satisfaction for Mark Philippoussis, now putting his eight-match losing slump behind through a second victory in three days.

Last summer’s Wimbledon finalist came through his second major challenge, constructing another comeback as he beat steady Sjeng Schalken 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 7-4.

Australia now hold an untouchable lead in the Blue Group.

It’s the same situation in the rival Red Group, where holder Chile and wild card host Germany will put undefeated records on the line.

Argentina took its victory with ease as Juan Chela began with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, victory over Vincent Spadea and Mariano Zabaleta followed up as he held off a late charge from Robby Ginepri 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 7-5.

Zimojnic Eliminated in St. Poelten

Nenad Zimonjic was eliminated in the second round of the $450,000 Raiffeisen Grand Prix yesterday, just 48 hours after he celebrated his greatest career triumph by defeating top seed Andre Agassi.

Zimonjic of Serbia-Montenegro went down to Romania’s Victor Hanescu 2-6, 3-6 and showed none of the brilliance that led him to a surprise upset of Agassi.

On Wednesday, doubles specialist Zimonjic was dominated by Hanescu throughout the clash, making a large number of unforced errors and losing in just over an hour.

In other second round action, Austrian Juergen Melzer kept home fans happy, booking his place in the quarterfinals with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Russia’s Igor Andreev.

Davenport, Farina Elia Enter Last 8 of Strasbourg Open

Defending champion Silvia Farina Elia remained on course for a fourth straight title at the $170,000 Strasbourg Open, reaching the quarterfinals with a 6-0, 3-6, 6-4 win over Anabel Medina Garrigues yesterday.

Top seed Lindsay Davenport also advanced, overcoming strong resistance to beat Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli 7-6, 7-5. Italian Farina Elia, the No. 3 seed, now meets Venezuelan qualifier Milagros Sequera who beat American Laura Granville 6-3, 6-2.

Davenport will meet Slovenia’s Katarina Srebotnik, who crushed Julia Vakulenko 6-0, 6-0.

Meanwhile, in other play yesterday, No. 2 Ai Sugiyama of Japan beat countrywoman Akiko Morigami 1-6, 6-3, 6-2; while Claudine Schaul of Luxembourg upset No. 5 Tina Pisnik of Slovenia, 7-5, 6-2.

No. 4 Emilie Loit beat Stephanie Cohen-Aloro, 6-1, 6-2 and Barbora Strycova won 6-4, 7-6 over Severine Beltrame.

Rubin Out, Smashnova Eases Through to Next Round

In Vienna, Austria, top seeded Chanda Rubin lost to Russia’s Alina Jidkova 6-7 (2), 7-6 , 4-6 in the second round of the $170,000 Wien Energie Grand Prix Wednesday on the American’s return to the WTA Tour after a three-month injury layoff.

In a duel of serves, both players battled their way through to tiebreakers in sets one and two.

No.2 seed Anna Smashnova-Pistolesi had less trouble, winning her first match 6-0, 6-1 against Czech Klara Koukalova.

In another upset, Germany’s Marlene Weingaertner defeated No. 4 Maria Vento-Kabchi of Venezuela, 6-1, 6-1.

In other second-round action, fifth-seeded Amy Frazier of the United States ousted Australian Nicole Pratt 6-1, 6-2, and eighth-seeded Jelena Kostanic of Croatia defeated China’s Ef. Ting Li 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.

Benneteau Outplays Boutter, Advances to Quarters

In Casablanca, Morocco, Frenchman Julien Benneteau advanced to the Grand Prix Hassan II quarterfinals yesterday, beating defending champion and countryman Julien Boutter 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.

There were also wins for No. 7 seed Thierry Ascione and Ivo Heuberger at the $447,000 clay-court tournament.

Ascione, who next plays Benneteau, won after Argentina’s Federico Browne retired at 6-2, 3-1 down. Swiss Davis Cup player Heuberger beat Italy’s Simone Vagnozzi 6-3, 6-4.