DUESSELDORF, Germany, 20 May 2005 — Argentina’s dream team of Gaston Gaudio and Guillermo Canas ended Chile’s bid to become the first nation to win a hat trick of World Team Cup titles with a 3-0 victory yesterday.
French Open champion Gaudio loosened Chile’s grip on title by inflicting a 6-4, 6-2 defeat on Fernando Gonzalez before world number 10 Canas sealed the champions’ fate with a 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 triumph over Nicolas Massu in the second singles.
The Red Group result not only gave Argentina bragging rights over their South American rivals but also secured their passage into the final. They will meet either hosts Germany or Spain for the title.
Roared on by chants of ‘Ar-gen-tina’, Gaudio ensured his team lived up to their favorites billing with an efficient 79-minute display against Gonzalez.
A break for 5-4 was enough to settle the first set before Gaudio stepped on the accelerator pedal to run away with a second on a sunny yet blustery afternoon in Duesseldorf.
Gaudio’s success handed Gonzalez his first defeat in 11 singles matches at the Rochusclub.
“I’m really happy that I broke the record here but my run is finished now,” said Gonzalez.
“I didn’t focus on what I had to do, lost my confidence and Gaston just played really well.”
Gaudio, who will begin the defense of his Roland Garros title next week, was especially pleased with his workout.
“I’ve had an unbelievable week and it’s been great preparation for the French,” the world No. 6 said.
“Now we just have to win to finish a great week and I would love to play Germany in the final. Against the whole crowd, it would be lovely.”
In the second singles, double Olympic champion Massu appeared to get Chile back into the contest when he ran away with the second set against Canas to level the match.
Buoyed by their man’s effort, Chile’s large contingent of traveling fans did their best to cheer Massu on in the third set but ultimately to no avail.
To compound Chile’s misery, Guillermo Coria and Juan Ignacio Chela completed the whitewash with a 6-4, 6-3 success in the doubles against Adrian Garcia and Hermes Gamonal.
France beat the Czech Republic 2-1 in the other tie in the Red Group but the result had no bearing on the outcome of the tournament as they both lost their opening two contests.
The eight countries play in two round-robin groups of four teams each. The top nation in each group will progress to the final.
After withdrawing from the World Team Cup with a fractured rib, Lleyton Hewitt confirmed he will be unable to take part in the French Open, which begins next Monday.
The world No. 2 sustained the injury at his Sydney home last week and he will be replaced by a lucky loser in the Paris draw.
Venus Williams continued her preparation for the season’s second grand slam with a quickfire 6-2, 6-1 win over Russian teenager Anna Chakvetadze in the quarterfinals of the Istanbul Cup.
