Germany, Britain Shocked Out of Davis Cup World Group for 2005

Germany suffered from no-shows by the injured Rainer Schuettler and Nicolas Kiefer in their loss to the Slovak Republic, and Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski lost the critical Saturday doubles against Austria, setting up the fifth-match decider which Rusedski lost to Stefan Koubek.

Other losers relegated to zonal player for 2005 were Morocco, Canada, Thailand, Paraguay, Japan, and Belgium.

Teams joining Austria and the Slovak Republic in the World Group from qualifying play were Australia, Romania, Russia, Czech Republic, Chile, and Russia.

Already in the World Group for 2005 are the U.S., Spain, France, Belarus, Sweden, Argentina, Switzerland, and The Netherlands.

Complete World Group qualifying results from the weekend:

Australia d. Morocco 4-1
In the two dead rubbers Sunday, the future of Aussie tennis was dealt a blow when Mounir El Aarej beat Aussie prospect Todd Reid in straight sets, and Todd Woodbridge beat Mehdi Ziadi in straights, handing out a bagel in the first set.

Romania d. Canada 4-1
Andrei Pavel clinched the tie for Romania Sunday with an easy 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 win over 19-year-old Canuck Frank Dancevic. In the dead rubber Victor Ionita of Romania beat Simon Larose when the Canadian retired at 2-4 in the first with injury.

Russia d. Thailand 5-0
Russian completed the sweep in the Sunday dead rubber singles when Nikolay Davydenko beat Sonchat Ratiwatana, and Mikhail Youzhny beat the other Thai twin Sanchai Ratiwatana, both in straight sets.

Slovak Republic d. Germany 3-2
Get ready to hear Boris Becker and Michael Stich cut loose again on the current generation of Germans as Germany was again relegated to zonal play for 2005 after being upset by the Slovak Republic Sunday. The Germans entered the final day of play with a 2-1 lead, but Dominik "The Dominator" Hrbaty shocked Tommy Haas in straight sets to even the tie at 2-2, and in the decider the veteran Karol Kucera overwhelmed D-Cup neophyte Florian "Oscar" Meyer 6-4, 6-0, 6-2. The Germans were without Nicolas Kiefer and Rainer Schuettler, both on the sidelines with injury.

Czech Republic d. Paraguay 5-0
The Czechs finished the sweep Sunday when Radek Stepanek beat Ramon Delgado, and Mario Tabara crushed Francisco Rodriguez, both in straight sets.

Chile d. Japan 5-0
Chile wins the two dead rubbers on Sunday with Hermes Gamonal outlasting Takao Suzuki in three, and Fernando "Gonzo" Gonzalez rolling Gouichi Motomura in straight sets.

Croatia d. Belgium 3-2
With the tie already decided, Croatia dropped both dead rubber singles Sunday, with waffle Olivier "The Roach" Rochus beating third-tier Croatian Sasa Tuksar in three sets, and Belgian Giles Elseneer defeating Mario "Baby Goran" Ancic when the Croat retired in the second set with injury.

Austria d. Great Britain 3-2
How many times can "Grinning" Greg Rusedski end up the goat in the final years before his retirement? Last year in Britain's World Group qualifier Rusedski dropped the fifth and final match against Morocco, succumbing to heat exhaustion. One year later Rusedski loses the fifth and final match against Austria, losing to Stefan Koubek 7-6(4), 6-4, 7-5. Grinning Greg held three sets points in the first set before losing in the tiebreak, and played with a bandaged hand after sustaining blisters in the Saturday doubles. Tim Henman and Grinning Greg dropped the rain-resumed doubles Sunday, with Henman beginning by dropping his serve at love. Henman then set up the fifth and final match by rebounding from a first set bagel to beat Jurgen "Tuna" Melzer 0-6, 6-2, 7-6(4), 6-2.