Tennis: Kucera kills off holders Sweden

KAROL KUCERA led Slovakia to a surprise victory over the reigning champions Sweden in their Davis Cup world group first round tie with a four-set victory over Thomas Enqvist yesterday.

The Slovak No 1, playing his third match of the weekend in Trollhattan, Sweden beat the top Swede 1-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 to give the Slovaks an unbeatable 3-1 lead and hand the home nation their first Davis Cup defeat since the 1996 final. Sweden's Thomas Johansson closed out the tie with a 6-4, 6- 4 defeat of Dominik Hrbaty in a meaningless rubber.

"I had my chances, but every time I did something good he would come up with something even better," Enqvist said after the defeat. The win was revenge for last year when Sweden knocked out the Slovaks on their home court in the first round on the way to winning their second consecutive title.

Gustavo Kuerten's 6-2, 6-4, 6-1 demolition of the Spanish No 1 Carlos Moya set Brazil on their way to a 3-2 first-round victory at Lleida in Spain. Kuerten, who had put his side in command of the tie with a match-winning role in Saturday's doubles, turned in another virtuoso display to give Brazil an unbeatable 3-1 lead.

The French No 1 Cedric Pioline beat Richard Krajicek to stay unbeaten in three matches as France sank the Netherlands in their world group tie in Nimes. Pioline, who spent nearly five hours on the court along with compatriot Guillaume Raoux on Saturday, tamed Krajicek the world No 4, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 to give France a 3-1 lead.