Swedes Sweep U.S. In Debacle American Tennis Team Incurs Lopsided Defeat After Reaching Davis Cup Final With High Hopes
A Davis Cup gone wrong in so many ways for the United States ended with one final indignity.
The United States, having lost the final the previous day, dropped both singles matches Sunday, completing a 5-0 sweep by Sweden for its sixth Davis Cup title.
The last time the Americans were shut out in the Davis Cup was 1973. That was against Australia in Cleveland, with Rod Laver and John Newcombe defeating Stan Smith, Tom Gorman and doubles player Erik van Dillen.
On Sunday, Jonas Bjorkman beat Jonathan Stark 6-1, 6-1, then Magnus Larsson downed Michael Chang 7-6 (7-4), 6-7 (6-8), 6-4. Chang dropped the opening singles Friday followed by Pete Sampras’ default because of a pulled calf muscle.
On Saturday, the doubles team of Stark and Todd Martin was beaten in straight sets by Bjorkman and Nicklas Kulti.
By Sunday, when this one-sided affair was over, U.S. captain Tom Gullikson was reduced to the oldest of promises when addressing the crowd after the awards ceremony.
“We will be back next year,” he said.
Andre Agassi and Armenia’s Sargis Sargsian will play today to determine the winner of the HealthSouth/USTA Men’s Challenger at Burbank, Calif. Sunday’s play was rained out.
xxxx DAVIS CUP Recent champions: 1990 USA 1991 France 1992 USA 1993 Germany 1994 Sweden 1995 USA 1996 France 1997 Sweden