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Rafter, Hewitt dazzle

Australians on top
BRISBANE. July 14: Australia had Brazil floundering and on-the-run with convincing straight set
victories In the opening day singles of their Davis Cup semifinal at ANZ Stadium here Friday, reports AFP.
Patrick Rafter sapped Brazilian confidence when he sailed past French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten 6-3. 6-2. 6-3 in 80 minutes to set the ball rolling for the defending champions.
Nlneteen-year-old Lleyton Hewitt tightened the noose with a 6-4 6-2, 6-3 victory over lefthander Fernando Meligenl in
96 minutes to be Just one rubber away from advancing to the December 8-10 final.
The whiner of the Brisbane semifinal will play either Spain or the United States, who decide the second semifinal in Santander, Spain, next weekend.
Brazil's task of reaching their first-ever Davis Cup final looks forlorn with the likelihood that Kuerten's groin Injury means he won't play In Saturday's make-or-break doubles rubber.
"Our guys did what had to be done and what probably showed out in the end was that their games are more experienced on grass," said Australian captain
John Newcombe.
"We've got them pinned on the ropes, but that doesn't always mean anything."
Brazilian captain Ricardo Acioly had to agree: "It’s obviously not good, we didn't win a set, so what can I say?
"I wasn't expecting those type of results, but quite a few things went wrong.
"We didn't serve well, didn't put enough pressure on their serves and we got only a couple of break points, but all credit to the Australian boys."
Australia, 27 times winners of the Davis Cup. are bidding for their eighth consecutive winning Davis Cup tie.
Rafter Increased his career D.ivis Cup record to 13-7 while Hewitt Improved to 8-3 since ids Cup debut against the United States 12 months ago.
Just five days after the deflation of losing to Pete Sampras in the Wimbledon final. Rafter had little trouble getting past the top-rated Kuerten, who could not come to grips with Rafter's net play and the low. inconsistent bounce on the grass surface.
"If you keep it low to him it’s probably the weakest area of his game and as soon as you get (he ball up anywhere above his knees he’s very dangerous." said Rafter.
"1 realised Gustavo Is a very good backcourt player and 1 felt Fcould match it with him from (he baseline, but I felt if I got to the net I d control the points a lot belter.
Three two and three is not a result 1 thought I’d get off Gus-mvo and 1 don't care what surface you play him on he can be dangerous.
"I don't think he really believed he could beat me, either that or he really struggled in the conditions and In the last couple of games he looked like he pulled up a little bit sore in the groin.*
It was Rafter's 12th win in his last 13 matches.
Rafter was in command, taking control of the net and putting Kuerten off balance with his clever angles and touch.
That was maybe the toughest day in my life to lose a match that way. he was much better than me," said Kuerten.
"1 expected to play better, but he just played enough to neutralise my game. I didn't have anything to bother him during the match.’
Kuerten said he only felt his groin injury’ hi the third set and didn't think he would back up in Saturday s doubles. .
other' players who(can play better than me," ne said.
It was 27-year-old Rafter's first singles match hi Davis Cup since tils career-threatening shoulder operation last year and his first since helping Australia to a 4-1 win over the United States in Boston last July.
Hewitt, who has assumed the mantle of Australia s topranked player inside 12 months, wasn't as typically pumped as he was for his memorable win over Russia's Yevgeny Kafelnikov here last September.
"Last year > was the underdog against Kafelnikov, whereas this year he (Meligenl) was the underdog and 1 was meant to win convincingly... hi the end 1 did." said Hewitt.