Gray-haired, 29-year-old Todd Martin looked slow and tentative on a hot court yesterday in his match against the smaller, quicker, 18-year-old Hewitt and utterly faded in the final two sets 6-4, 6-7 (1-7), 6-3, 6-0.Jim Courier tried to even matters, but the net-charging tactics of two-time US Open champion Rafter overwhelmed him in key moments for a 7-6 (7-5), 6-4, 6-4 defeat.

France-Brazil tied

PAU, FRANCE: Gustavo Kuerten beat off a defiant challenge from Sebastien Grosjean in a marathon five-set match before Cedric Pioline won the day's second match to level scores. The No 5-ranked former French Open winner overcame persistent problems with a left calf injury towin 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (5-7), 9-7 in four hours, 42 minutes. Pioline outclassed Brazilian No 2 Fernando Meligeni, who never looked happy on the indoor carpet, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.

Russia lead

MOSCOW: Yevgeny Kafelnikov overcame a crowd brawl and determined Dominik Hrbaty as Russia took a 2-0 lead over Slovakia, while Belgium went 2-0 up against Switzerland in Brussels.

Marat Safin gave the Russians an early edge with an upset win over Slovakia's Karol Kucera. The 19-year-old came back from a set and break down to win the second and third sets.

And after trailing 1-4 in the fourth, he won five successive games to clinch the result 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-4.

Kafelnikov won a marathon five-set match 2-6, 6-2, 6-7 (7-3), 6-1, 7-5.

DAVIS CUP UPDATE

Slovakia won the doubles against Russia to stay alive 2-1. France won the doubles to take a 2-1 lead over Brazil.

Karol Kucera/Dominic Hrbaty (Svk) bt Yevgeny Kafelnikov/Andrei Olhovaskiy 6-2 6-2 6-2.

Fabrice Santoro & Olivier Delaitre(Fra) bt Gustavo Kuerten & Jaime Oncins 7-6 (7/5) 6-4 6-4

Results

World Group quarter-finals

At Pau, France: France 1 Brazil 1

Gustavo Kuerten (Bra) bt Sebastien Grosjean (Fra) 6-2, 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (5-7), 9-7; Fernando Meligeni (Bra) lost to Cedric Pioline (Fra) 3-6, 3-6, 3-6

At Brussels: Belgium 2 Switzerland 0

Xavier Malisse bt Lorenzo Manta 6-4, 6-0, 7-6 (7-1); Christophe van Garsse bt Roger Federer 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 1-6, 7-5, 6-1

At Moscow: Russia 2 Slovakia 0

Marat Safin bt Karol Kucera 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-4; Yevgeny Kafelnikov bt Dominik Hrbaty 2-6, 6-2, 6-7 (3-7), 6-1, 7-5

At Brookline (USA): Australia 2 United States 0

Lleyton Hewitt bt Todd Martin 6-4, 6-7 (1-7) 6-3, 6-0; Patrick Rafter bt Jim Courier 7-6 (7-5), 6-4, 6-4