United States, Australia do a Houdini

LONDON, FEBRUARY 7: Davis Cup favourites United States and champions Australia swept Sunday's reverse singles to secure dramatic come-from...

LONDON, FEBRUARY 7: Davis Cup favourites United States and champions Australia swept Sunday8217;s reverse singles to secure dramatic come-from-behind 3-2 wins and scramble into the quarter-finals.

It was only the fourth time in the 101-year history of the event that the Americans had won a tie from 1-2 down. Superb performances in Harare from Andre Agassi and debutant Chris Woodruff saw the US dispose of Zimbabwe8217;s Black brothers.

Australia were perilously close to becoming only the fifth defending champions to fall at the first hurdle, but Mark Philippoussis, hero of the victory over France in December8217;s final, came good when it counted in a thrilling five-setter.

Lleyton Hewitt had pulled Australia level with Switzerland by beating Roger Federer 6-2, 3-6, 7-6, 6-1 and Philippoussis, who lost his opening singles to Federer, recovered from conceding the first set to beat George Bastl 6-7, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

France were not so fortunate, though, crashing 1-4 to Brazil in Florianopolis.

Britain8217;s challenge ended when Tim Henman fell to the Czech Republic8217;s Jiri Novak 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 and they must now play Wayne and Byron Black for the honour of remaining in the World Group.

The Czech Republic, who won 4-1, will travel to the US in April to fight for a place in the semi-finals.

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Spain, 4-1 conquerors of Italy, will host a Russia side who crushed Belgium 4-1 and Brazil are rewarded for their efforts with a home quarter-final clash against Slovakia after the eastern Europeans beat Austria 3-2.

Germany beat an under-strength Netherlands 4-1 and will play the winner of Australia in the last eight.

The US tie was the most dramatic of the weekend. Coming into the final day trailing 1-2, world No 1 Andre Agassi used up every last ounce of energy in beating Byron Black to level matters.

The victory made Agassi, with 28 wins, the second most successful American player in Davis Cup history, beating the record of Arthur Ashe.

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Only new captain John McEnroe with 41 wins is ahead of the 29-year-old Las Vegan.

But the win came at a cost 8212; Agassi had to leave the stadium straight after his match having been sick on court as a result of his exertions.

The spotlight switched to Chris Woodruff. The Tennessee Davis Cup debutant had looked way out of his depth on Friday when he was thumped in straight sets by Byron Black.

But with the voice of captain John McEnroe relentlessly urging him on, the 27-year-old exacted his revenge on Byron8217;s younger brother Wayne, clinching an emotional 6-3, 6-7, 6-2, 6-4 victory.

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8220;That was phenomenal,8221; McEnroe said afterwards. 8220;It feels incredible8230;This is right up there. It8217;s an incredible thing to be a part of this. This is what it is all about. I knew it was going to be tough, but I didn8217;t know it was going to be that tough.8221;

World Group Pre-Quarter-Final Results

In Harare: United States bt Zimbabwe 3-2
In Zurich: Australia bt Switzerland
In Ostrava: Czech Republic bt Great Britain 4-1
In Florianopolis: Brazil bt France 4-1
In Murcia: Spain bt Italy 4-1
In Leipzig: Germany bt Netherland 4-1
In Bratislava: Slovakia vs Austria 3-2
In Moscow: Russia vs Belgium 4-1

Quarter-Final Line-Up

United States vs Czech Republic
Australia vs Germany
Russia vs Spain
Slovakia vs Brazil