United States, France Split Opening Matches In Davis Cup First Round

Jim Courier, relaxed but determined and ranked 12th, got the United States Davis Cup team back on track against France on Friday.

Courier’s 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 victory over Guy Forget offset the promising start Cedric Pioline gave the French with a 7-5, 6-2, 6-4 upset of American Todd Martin.

Pioline, ranked 50th, broke down Martin after a slow start and gradually took control when the favored American’s confidence began to waver.

Martin is ranked 13th but is 0-4 against Pioline.

Wimbledon winner Conchita Martinez and Australian Open titlist Mary Pierce were unable to feed off the luster of those crowns in the quarterfinals of the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo.

Japan’s fifth-seeded Kimiko Date shocked top-seeded Martinez 0-6, 6-2, 6-3. Seventh-seeded Magdalena Maleeva of Bulgaria upset second-seeded Pierce 6-3, 1-6, 6-3.