The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : Sweden eliminated

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Thursday, May 24, 2007
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Sweden eliminated

DUSSELDORF: Bob and Mike Bryan clinched the United States' first victory in three years at the ATP World Team Championship on Tuesday, combining for a straight-set victory that toppled Argentina 2-1 while Chile won its second in as many days and eliminated Sweden.

James Blake rallied to beat Agustin Calleri 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 before Jose Acasuso defeated Mardy Fish 7-5, 6-4 to even the tie.

The Bryans, coming off their victory at the Hamburg Masters Series last week, then defeated Calleri and Juan Ignacio Chela 6-2, 6-1 to end the Americans' eight-match losing streak at the prestigious team event.

The United States, a four-time champion of the event but none since 1993, last won a tie at the World Team Championship when it beat the Netherlands in 2004. Chile climbed to the top of the Red Group with a 2-1 victory over the Scandinavians. Nicolas Massu lost only seven points in the final set to subdue Jonas Bjorkman 7-5, 6-7(6), 6-0. Fernando Gonzalez clinched the win by beating Robin Soderling 4-6, 7-5, 6-4. The meaningless doubles was won by the pairing of Bjorkman and Thomas Johanson.

The victory improved Chile to 2-0 while Sweden fell to the bottom with its second loss in as many ties. The Americans and Argentines are tied for second with a 1-1 record. The winners of the Red and Blue Groups play Saturday for the title.

The results: Red group: USA bt Argentina 2-1 (James Blake bt Agustin Calleri 2-6, 6-3, 6-4; Mardy Fish lost to Jose Acasuso 5-7, 4-6; Bob & Michael Bryan bt Calleri & Juan Ignacio Chela 6-2, 6-1).

Chile bt Sweden 2-1 (Nicolas Massu bt Jonas Bjorkman 7-5, 6-7(6), 6-0; Fernando Gonzalez bt Robin Soderling 4-6, 7-5, 6-4; Gonzalez & Massu lost to Bjorkman & Thomas Johanson 7-5, 3-6, 7-10). — Agencies

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