Pat Rafter and Mark Philippoussis both won in four sets against lower-ranked opponents in the first round of singles on the grass center court at Memorial Drive.
With world No. 1 pairing of Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde to contest the doubles rubber Saturday, Australia looked set to secure a winning 3-0 lead and a semifinal meeting with either the United States or The Netherlands.
The Czechs, already weakened by the absence of four top players, suffered a setback before the start of play Friday when Jiri Novak was forced to withdraw from his singles clash with Philippoussis because of a virus.
His late replacement, lowly ranked left-hander David Rikl, proved no match for the big-serving Philippoussis and was beaten 6-1, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 in a match lasting one hour and 47 minutes.
Rafter earlier claimed the opening match by beating Martin Damm 6-1, 7-6 (9-7), 4-6, 6-4.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.