SYDNEY, April 7 - Chris Guccione felled Max
Mirnyi 7-6 3-6 7-5 3-6 6-4 to give Australia a shock 1-0 lead
over Belarus in their Davis Cup quarter-final in Melbourne on
Friday.
"It's the biggest win of my career," Guccione told
Australian television. "In front of my home crowd there's no
better feeling. I was very nervous but I relaxed into the
match."
The 20-year-old Guccione broke Mirnyi's serve in the last
game of the opening singles match which lasted three hours 41
minutes, clinching victory when the Belarussian netted a simple
forehand volley.
The left-hander from Melbourne, who won the deciding rubber
against Switzerland in the last round, is ranked 168th in the
world, 117 places below Mirnyi, nicknamed The Beast for his
intimidating stature and power.
Australian Lleyton Hewitt plays Vladimir Voltchkov in the
second singles later on Friday.