DUESSELDORF, MAY 21: Mark Woodforde and Todd Woodbridge, the world's top-ranked doubles team, gave Australia an unexpected win over the United States at the World Team Cup yesterday.

The `Woodies', as they are known, beat Alex O'Brien and Jonathan Stark 4-6 6-4 6-2 to give Australia the Red Group tie 2-1 on a long day twice disrupted for by rain and which ended in darkness with a match still being played.

``The rain delay really helped us,'' said Woodforde, down a set and tied 4-4 in the second when the first delay was called. ``The floodgates really opened for us after the break.''

It was a surprise win for the Aussies who were faced with the usually lethal American combination of world No one Pete Sampras and No two Michael Chang in the reverse singles on Monday.

Sampras however, was forced to retire after straining a left thigh muscle while leading his opening match against Mark Philippoussis.

Chang, who teamed with Sampras to win the title for the US four years ago, evened the tie with a win over Woodforde.

Sampras, playing in just his third event after missing two tournaments with a wrist injury, has not indicated whether he will play in the United States' next match tomorrow.

``We came into this as the underdog,'' said Woodforde. ``Now it's unbelievable, we could be in the final on Sunday.''

With darkness falling, Alberto Costa sped through his match with Magnus Gustafsson in less than an hour, hammering the Swede 6-4 6-1 to give Spain the tie 2-0. Earlier, Felix Mantilla had back from one set down to post a 1-6 7-6 6-4 win over Magnus Larsson.

Croatia and the Czech Republic were not able to complete their tie. Level at 1-1, the doubles was suspended with Croatia's Goran Ivanisevic and Sasa Hirszon leading Daniel Vacek and Martin Damm 5-7 6-4 3-1.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.