In Moscow, it was the rising star Marat Safin who came up with the decisive point, edging Dominik Hrbaty of Slovakia in a five-set thriller 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, 6-7 (3-7), 6-4 to give his country the 3-2 victory.

Earlier, Russia's top player Yevgeny Kafelnikov had been beaten in straight sets by Karol Kucera 6-2, 6-3, 6-4, tying the match at 2-2.

In Brussels, Xavier Matisse, ranked 111th in the world, defeated Roger Federer 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-6 (7-5) to give Belgium an unassailable 3-1 lead over Switzerland. In Pau, Cedric Pioline beat Gustavo Kuerten, 20 places above him in the world rankings, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 to put hosts France 3-1 up over Brazil, thereby clinching a position in the final four.

The United States stayed alive in its Davis Cup quarter-final tie against Australia onFriday by winning a pressure-packed, five-set doubles match to make it 2-1 in the best-of-five competition.

Pete Sampras teamed up with Alex O'Brien to defeat Mark Woodforde and Sandon Stolle 6-4 6-3 3-6 4-6 6-3 in a three-hour, 29-minute struggle that soared to a brilliant crescendo in the last set on another sweltering day at the Longwood Cricket Club.

Afterwards, US captain Tom Gullikson said there was a possibility he might put Sampras in the line-up for the reverse singles. Davis Cup rules dictate a change in the lineup can only be made due to injury.

``It's a possibility,'' said Gullikson, who said Todd Martin would be examined by a team doctor and then by a neutral doctor.

Martin, who has climbed to number eight in the world this season, has battled a variety of injuries this year but showed no effects of injury on Friday in losing to 18-year-old Davis Cup rookie Lleyton Hewitt. Martin is scheduled to play Patrick Rafter.