Chile is the World Team Champion again! Nicolas Massu clinched Chile's victory at the ARAG WORLD TEAM CUP with a convincing straight set win over Mark Philippoussis. Philippoussis had not lost a singles match all week, recording three consecutive wins, but Massu dominated from the outset on a brisk sunny afternoon in Duesseldorf and never looked in trouble against the Australian ace.   Combined with Fernando Gonzalez's singles win over Lleyton Hewitt earlier in the day, Chile notched its second team point of the afternoon for the win. "Last year was our firsttime winning so it was all new to us," said Massu after the win. "But this year we really wanted to win again and that makes it really special. We are very motivated to play here in Duesseldorf." By winning, Chile became the first team to successfully defend the ARAG WORLD TEAM CUP title since the United States, led by John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors, won titles in 1984 and 1985. The Chilean team with Gonzalez, Massu, third teammember Adrian Garcia and coaches Gabriel Markus and Horacio de la Pena celebrated on-court with a boisterous Chilean contingent cheering them from the stands. "I am very happy to win for me team and my country," said Gonzalez, who was 4-0 in singles matches this week at the Rochusclub. "I came here playing OK but I was playing better and better every day and I played great today."

Gaudio draws first blood against Australia May 21
http://www.arag-world-team-cup.com/

Gaston Gaudio and Lleyton Hewitt battled it out for nearly three hours on Friday as Argentina took a 1-0 lead over Australia on the final day of group play at the ARAG WORLD TEAM CUP.

With the winning team from today poised to play Chile - winner of the Red Group - in tomorrow's final, both Gaudio and Hewitt put everything on the line to try and pick up the first point for their country.

Gaudio looked like he was cruising up a set and a break at one point. But putting away Hewitt, a former World No. 1 and two-time Grand Slam winner, always proves tougher than it seems.

After pulling out the second set, Hewitt looked to have the momentum going into the third. Gaudio hung tough, however, and the two went to a tiebreak during which Gaudio promptly jumped to a 5-1 lead. Hewitt was not done and won four consecutive points to pull even at 5-all. From there,
the Argentine won two points and with it the important first team point.

Australia can still make tomorrow's final as they look to win their third title in six years. Mark Philippoussis will look to keep Australia in the match when he plays Mariano Zabaleta, while top doubles team Wayne Arthurs and Paul Hanley lie in wait should the head-to-head match come down to the doubles on Center Court 1. (rpenner)


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Philippoussis keeps Aussie hopes alive May 21
http://www.arag-world-team-cup.com/

Australia found itself one point away from being eliminated at the ARAG WORLD TEAM CUP but Mark Philippoussis battled through a marathon match and two match points against him as he defeated Argentina's Mariano Zabaleta to tie the match at one point apiece.

Zabaleta and Philippoussis split sets and kept the enthusiastic fans on the edge of their seats during their 2 hour 16 minute duel. Zabaleta held two match points at 5:4 with Philippoussis serving, but couldn't take advantage of the opportunity. Philippoussis then broke at 5-all and held on to win 7:5 in the thirdset.

For the first time since opening day on Sunday, both matches have gone the distance at the Rochusclub with the doubles on Center
Ceourt 1 and Center Court 2 both deciding who will win the dual match.

Australians Wayne Arthurs and Paul Hanley will take on Lucas Arnold and Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina with the winner advancing their team to tomorrow's final against Chile. (rpenner)


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Australia wins Blue Group, to face Chile in final May 21
http://www.arag-world-team-cup.com/

Australia will play for its third title in six years at the ARAG WORLD TEAM CUP after coming from behind to defeat Argentina Friday at the Rochusclub.

Argentina was just one point from winning the match when Mariano Zabaleta held match points against Mark Philippoussis in the second singles match of the day. But the hard-serving Australian, who had struggled with results heading into this event, fought off the challenge and won 7:5 in the third set against Zabaleta.

The win by Philippoussis leveled the team score at 1-all after Gaston Gaudio had defeated LleytonHewitt earlier in the day. It also set the stage for Wayne Arthurs and Paul Hanley to win the doubles point against Lucas Arnold and Juan Ignacio Chela as the sun began to set in Duesseldorf.

"It couldn't gone better to form today for me," said Philippoussis.
"Sometimes you just need one match to get back into your old game."

In the day's other dual match the United States came from behind like Australia to defeat Holland 2-1. Robby Ginepri and the Bryan Brothers won their matches to lead the U.S. to a third-place finish in the Blue Group. (rpenner)

Australia, Argentina advance at ATP World Team Championship


May 19, 2004
DUSSELDORF, Germany (Ticker) - Australia and Argentina each won their matches Wednesday to advance to the finals of the Blue Group at the ATP World Team Championships.

Lleyton Hewitt and Mark Philippoussis each rallied from a set down to lead Australia to a 3-0 victory over The Netherlands, while Argentina advanced with a 2-1 decision over the United States.

Hewitt defeated Martin Verkerk, 1-6, 7-6 (7-2), 7-5, and Philippoussis got past Sjeng Schalken, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 7-5, for his second win of the week after having not won an ATP Tour match since late January.



The doubles tandem of Wayne Arthurs and Paul Hanley completed the sweep with a 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) victory over Verkerk and John van Lottum.

"I wasn't happy at all with the first set," Hewitt said. "But then I was fighting after that. I served better and I was making him run. You should never underestimate a guy like that (Verkerk) just because he is so tall."

Juan Ignacio Chela and Martin Zabala won three-set matches to lead Argentina past the United States. Chela outlasted Vincent Spadea, 6-3, 6-3, 6-4, and Zabala rallied for a 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 7-5 victory over Robby Ginepri.

The Americans won the doubles as the tandem of Bob and Mike Bryan bested the duo of Lucas Arnold and Gaston Gaudio, 5-7, 6-1, 6-3.

Defending champion Chile and Germany, who are both 2-0 in group play, will play for the Red Group title Thursday. Germany has not been to the final of this event since winning it in 1998, while Chile is looking to become the first back-to-back winners since the United States in 1984 and 1985.

Argentina and Australia square off Friday with the winners of the two groups meeting in the championship Saturday.

Hewitt keeps Aussies on course
From correspondents in Germany
May 20, 2004
FORMER Wimbledon champion Lleyton Hewitt produced a gritty performance to defeat Dutchman Martin Verkerk on the fourth day of the ATP world team cup, keeping Australia on course for a place in the final.


Hewitt, 23, was steamrolled 6-1 by Munich Open finalist Verkerk in an opening set that lasted just 22 minutes.

However, Hewitt fought back to level the match winning the second set 7-6 (7-2) in the tie-break.

"It took me time to get into the match," confessed Hewitt. "He was unstoppable in the first set and I just had to hang in there."

In the decisive set Hewitt, roared on by Belgian girlfiend and tennis World No.2 Kim Clijsters, broke to go 6-5 up and held his nerve to serve out for the match at 7-5.

"I feel good and hopefully can raise my game for the French Open next week," added Hewitt.

Mark Philippoussis, 27, has the chance to clinch another point for Australia in his singles match with Dutchman Sjeng Schalken.

Holland have still yet to win a match in this year's competition after losing 3-0 to Argentina in their first tie.

Indeed it looks like Davis Cup holders Australia and Argentina will fight it out for a spot in the final after Juan Ignacio Chela defeated American Vincent Spadea 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.

The 2002 victors from South America are the only team not to lose a match in the competition so far.

Hosts Germany or reigning champions Chile are fighting it out for a place in the final at the summit of the red group.