NEW DELHI , 27 September 2005— Thomas Johansson guided seven-time champions Sweden to a 3-1 victory over India in their rain-affected Davis Cup tie yesterday to remain in the elite 16-nation World Group.
The former Australian Open champion notched his second straight-sets victory, beating Prakash Amritraj 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 in the first reverse singles to give Sweden an unassailable lead in the best-of-five contest.
“I’m more relieved,” captain Mats Wilander told reporters after his team extended their record over India to 5-0.
“At least you don’t have to play tough countries in a division lower.
“Davis Cup for Sweden is a tradition, we guys learn a lot about ourselves and help each other, show good camaraderie.
“Most importantly we were not getting down because of the circumstances,” he said of the uneven bounce and sapping humidity, an issue which he felt should be reviewed by the International Tennis Federation in the future.
Favorites Sweden had led 2-0 overnight, the tie spilling into day four after heavy rain washed out play on Saturday and delayed resumption on Sunday due to a wet grass court.
Former top ranked pair Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi had kept India’s slim hopes alive yesterday by notching a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 doubles victory over Jonas Bjorkman and Simon Aspelin. Sweden made a perfect start on Friday when Bjorkman, the world’s top doubles player, beat Amritraj 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in the first singles. Johansson then downed big-serving Rohan Bopanna 7-6, 7-6, 7-6 in a match which finished on Sunday.
Bhupathi and Paes then dominated to achieve India’s maiden victory over Sweden in a live rubber. The pair displayed the class that netted them three Grand Slam titles together when the match resumed, the Swedish pair ahead 6-3, 1-3 when bad light halted the match on Sunday.
Bartoli Cruises Into the
Second Round in Korea
In Seoul, Marion Bartoli of France recorded an easy win over Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand in the first round of the $140,000 Seoul Open WTA women’s tennis tournament yesterday.
Eighth seed Bartoli, ranked 43rd in the world, proved too strong for the Thai, winning 6-0, 6-1. Aiko Nakamura of Japan, meanwhile, overpowered South Korean wild card Chang Kyung-Mi 6-3, 6-1. In the second round, Nakamura will play sixth seed Vera Douchevina of Russia, who beat American Abigail Spears 6-4, 6-2.
Meghann Shaughnessy of the United States also made it into the second round, defeating Tatiana Panova of Russia 6-1, 7-6 (7-4).
Argentine Mariana Diaz-Oliva bounced back from a poor opening set to beat Mashona Washington of the United States 0-6, 7-5, 6-3.
American Laura Granville made it through to the second round after seventh seed Shinobu Asagoe of Japan was forced to pull out before the match with a hip injury.
Serena Slips Out as Schnyder
Moves Into Top Ten
In Hamburg, there were only two changes in the top ten in women’s tennis in the new rankings released yesterday with former No. 1 Serena Williams slipping out of the top ten after losing her only match in the China Open.
Russian Maria Sharapova, who retired with injury in her semifinal in Beijing, retains the No. 1 spot from Lindsey Davenport, who had to withdraw from the Asian tournament before it started. The only newcomer into the top ten this week was Swiss Patty Schnyder, who comes in at No. 10 to close in on her best-ever ranking — eighth — she achieved in January 1999.
