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USA Take Out Inaugural World Tennis Challenge
A capacity crowd flocked to Memorial Drive to witness which country would take home the trophy on the final night of World Tennis Challenge. The USA had been a class act all week and their blend of youth and experience proved the winning formula in Adelaide.
The two form players of the Challenge were set to meet on night three, with Taylor Dent and Joachim Johansson battling for supremacy and a chance at the inaugural World Tennis Challenge Cup. Dent looked strong from the get go and will be a dangerous floater in Melbourne, closing out the first singles 6-3 7-5.
Jumping in for Mats Wilander half way through the match, honorary Swede Mansour Bahrami looked to keep Scandinavian hopes alive as he helped take on former world number one Jim Courier. Courier was up to the task of taking on two opponents and sealed the tie for the American’s with an emphatic 8-5 victory.
Having already won World Tennis Challenge, the crowd was set for an entertaining doubles between the USA and Sweden. The tricks coming off Bahrami’s racquet were endless, but were no match for the might of the USA sealing tie with a 6-4 doubles win.
In a shock for the home side Mark Philippoussis was rested from the night’s line up with 17 year old West Australian Mark Verryth stepping into to play for his country. After a shaky start and losing the first set against Frenchmen Fabrice Santoro, Verryth found rhythm but it was all too late with France claiming the first singles 6-1 6-4.
In an attempt to keep the home side in with a chance on night three, Pat Cash took on Henri Leconte.
Chasing their first win of the Challenge, Leconte and France were looking the goods in an extremely tight set and closed by wining in a tie break 8-7.
In an entertaining double’s match the Aussie’s were seeking revenge, however it was not to be with France sealing their first tie of the tournament with a resounding win over the Aussie’s in front of a vocal home crowd.
