OWN CORRESPONDENT, Harare | Sunday 3.30pm.
WORLD number one Andre Agassi pulled the United States back into the World Group Davis Cup first round clash in Harare on Sunday when he beat Zimbabwean Byron Black 6-2, 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) to level the tie at 2-2.
All now depends on the outcome of Sunday’s second reverse singles match between Byron’s younger brother Wayne and Davis Cup debutant Chris Woodruff.
Agassi got a flying start winning the first set 6-2 after forcing the Zimbabwean number one to work hard for his serves. Black served four break points in the fourth game but was broken in the sixth and eighth.
Agassi stamped his authority early in the second set and broke Black in the second game.
Black almost came back in the third game when Agassi had to serve a break point before going three love up. He won the set 6-3 and then broke Black in the third game of the third set to go 2-1 up.
He seemed to lose concentration when serving at 3-2 and Black broke him. It was very tight for the rest of the set with Black putting Agassi under pressure on all his serve games. It went to a tie break and Agassi conceded the early mini-break, but broke back immediately and quickly ran out a 6-3 lead before taking the tie break seven point to four.
The stage is now set for a live rubber between Zimbabwe’s number two Wayne Black and Woodruffe.
The Americans slipped behind on Saturday after Wayne Black and Kevin Ullyett came through a five-set thriller against Rick Leach and Alex O’Brien 7-6 (7/4), 5-7, 0-6, 7-5, 7-5.
In Friday’s opening singles Agassi beat Wayne Black 7-5, 6-3, 7-5 and Byron Black beat Woodruff 7-6 (7/2) 6-3, 6-2 — AFP