Albert Costa gave Spain their first point of the Davis Cup World Group semifinal Friday beating the US team's top player Todd Martin 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 as he wilted under the midday sun.
The opening loss is a huge blow to the US squad, already shaken by the absence of top players Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi, and who were counting on Martin, who has a 13-2 record against Spaniards on clay.
But the Florida-based player, who has been absent from the circuit for most of this year because of injury, could not match the power of clay court specialist Costa going down in 2hrs.
There were a total of five service breaks in the second set three in favor of the Spaniard, ranked 16th on the ATP's entry list, with the American, ranked 29th, going on to lose the second set 6-4 in 45 minutes.
In order to keep their hopes alive, Wimbledon quarterfinalist Jan-Michael Gambill will have to win his match later on Friday against Spanish number one Alex Corretja.
But 26-year-old Corretja, ranked seventh in the world, has been in top form recently and tuned up for the tie by lifting the Swiss Open last Monday, his second title of the year after the Masters Series event at Indian Wells in March.
On Saturday the Spanish duo of Juan Balcells and Corretja take on the new American pairing of Chris Woodruff and Vince Spadea, following the decision of US captain John McEnroe not to play doubles, for what could prove to be the crucial match of this rubber.
Corretja and Balcells have a 1-1 Davis Cup doubles record together, with both matches taking place this year.
Sunday's reverse singles, will be Corretja versus Martin, followed by Costa versus Gambill.
This will be the fifth meeting between Corretja and Martin with the series tied 2-2.
Costa has a 2-0 win-loss record against Gambill with both matches won in straight sets on hard court at the Canadian Open in 1998 and Sydney last year.
The winner in Spain will play Australia, who last weekend demolished Brazil 5-0 in their semifinal in Brisbane, for the December 8-10 final. If Spain win they will host the event, but should the US win they will be travelling to Melbourne -- (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
