ESPN.com - TENNIS - Kuerten overcomes poor start to beat Alami

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Friday, February 9
Kuerten overcomes poor start to beat Alami



RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- Moroccan No. 1 Hicham Arazi retired hurt in the second singles against Fernando Meligeni to leave Brazil 2-0 ahead in their Davis Cup world group first round on Friday.

Earlier, Gustavo Kuerten overcame Karim Alami in an epic five-set encounter, winning 6-7, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 in just under four hours.

Arazi was forced to quit after the seventh game of the fourth set with cramp in his leg.

After racing 3-0 ahead in the fourth set, he slowed considerably, lost four successive games and was treated twice before finally giving in. Meligeni led 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 4-3 at the time.

Meligeni said he had worried about falling victim to the searing tropical heat himself as he threw-away a three-game lead on his way to losing the second set.

"I thought I was going to drop," he admitted. "It was very hot, my head was exploding. I felt tired and slow but I pulled through."

"One moment, I was hitting the ball well, then the heat and the pressure come and anything could have happened."

Kuerten, the world's top player last year, made a slow start and trailed his 65th-ranked opponent by two sets to one.

The Brazilian, who started the season with a shock second round defeat in the Australian Open, produced a string of unforced errors early on, then coasted through the last two sets for the loss of only three games.

"I was short of rhythm," said Kuerten. "I began badly but I fought hard, and that is what matters in the Davis Cup. I think I can improve a lot."

Kuerten hinted that he preferred not to play in Saturday's doubles, suggesting that Alexandre Simoni could take his place alongside Davis Cup stalwart Jaime Oncins. "Now could be a good opportunity to see if this pair works," he said.

Arazi's injury could also give Younes Al Aynaoui, who was surprisingly left out of the original line-up, a chance to play alongside Alami on Saturday.

He had slowed considerably during the set and was treated on two occasions before finally giving in. Meligeni led 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 4-3 at the time.

 




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