Venus Injured and Out at Dubai; Aussies Gear-up for Cup

Farina Elia led 5-2 in the second before nerves set in, allowing Venus to level the set at 5-5 before closing it out in the tiebreaker.

"I really don't know if I would have played the third, and if I would have won the match I really don't think I would have continued the tournament," Venus said. "Now I'll have to rest it. My next tournament is in Miami in about 20 days. If I'm really fit and ready to go then I'll play. If I'm not, then I won't."

No. 8 seed Patty Schnyder (d. Maleeva) was the other lone seed in action, joined in the second round by un-seeds (WC) Conchita Martinez (d. Asagoe), Serb Jelena Jankovic (d. Suarez), and (WC) Sania Mirza of India who came from a set down to beat Croat Jelena Kostanic 6-1 in the third.

"It was a really good match, I think," said the 18-year-old Mirza, who will now face US Open holder Svetlana Kuznetsova. "Maybe a few points in the first set could have made the difference and maybe I could have won in straight sets. In the third set I told myself that I had to try and get the first two games and I knew that she was going to crack. And that is exactly what happened."

The final round of qualifying was also completed, with four more onto the big dance in France's Marion Bartoli, Russian Vera Douchevina, and China's Na Li and Jie Zheng.

On tap for Tuesday in Dubai are Likhovtseva vs. Sfar, Molik vs. Hantuchova, Mirza vs. Kuznetsova, Farina Elia vs. Jankovic, Medina Garrigues vs. Zheng, Li vs. Sugiyama, Schiavone vs. Bovina, a quality doubles match-up in Ruano Pascual/Suarez vs. Myskina/Sugiyama, Douchevina vs. Dechy, and Dulko vs. Bartoli.

Davis Cup Previews: Austria at Aussies, Czechs at Gauchos

Tennis-X will this week preview two of the first-round Davis Cup World Group matches each day leading to the Friday kick-off of the opening singles. Today's previews: Austria will try and bring the lawnmower against Australia, and the Czechs get ready for a red-clay clinic:

Austria at Australia
Site: Sydney International Tennis Centre, Sydney, Australia
Surface: Grass outdoors
Ball: Slazenger Championship Grasscourt

The Aussies put the underwhelming Austrian squad of Jurgen Melzer, Julian Knowle and Alexander Peya on the grass in Sydney for the slaughter against former Wimbledon champ Lleyton Hewitt and serving machine Wayne Arthurs, who is coming off his first singles win at Scottsdale.

Also on the Aussie squad are Scott Draper and doubles kingpin Todd Woodbridge.

Austrian captain Thomas Muster will be hard-pressed to find a win over the weekend without Stefan Koubek, who is currently serving a drug suspension. Melzer is a combined 0-4 in singles against Hewitt and Arthurs, and Knowle a combined 0-2.

On Monday Lleyton Hewitt looked relaxed at Australia's first practice session, having a knock-around with Todd Reid and kissing fiancee and actress Bec Cartwright courtside.

"(Arthurs) usually lifts his games for Davis Cup level more than as an individual," Aussie captain John Fitzgerald said of his likely pick for the No. 2 singles. "He is in the mix for singles and doubles but it depends on a number of factors and about how he feels this week. He should get three good nights of sleep behind him and, on paper, he is favorite for the singles, particularly when he's got that confidence."

Also on the Austrian squad is unknown 22-year-old Marco Mirnegg, who Muster is high on.

Advance Australia to the quarterfinal round with a 5-0 romp, where they will face the Argentina-Czech winner.

Czech Republic at Argentina
Site: Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Surface: Red clay outdoors
Ball: Pro Penn Extra Duty (Black Seal)

Even without current French Open holder Gaston Gaudio, who pulled with a stomach injury, Argentina goes into this weekend's home tie on the red clay in Buenos Aires as the overwhelming favorite against the Czech Republic.

The Gauchos will front Roland Garros runner-up Guillermo Coria, with David Nalbandian or the resurgent Guillermo Canas at No. 2 in singles. Agustin Calleri was added to the team to replace Gaudio.

Czech captain Cyril Suk will lead with Jiri Novak and comer Tomas "I Beat Federer in 2004" Berdych, with Jan Hernych and Tomas Zib rounding out the squad. Novak had a clay win over Coria back in 2002, has never faced Nalbandian on the dirt, and got worked by Canas on the red 6-4, 6-0 back in 2002 in their last dirt meeting. Berdych has faced only one of the Gauchos, getting fed a bagel set by Coria at this year's Australian Open.

Unless an inspired Novak can do a one-man-band in singles and doubles, this could easily become another 5-0 first-round red clay blowout.

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TENNIS-X NEWS, NOTES, QUOTES AND BARBS
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