Yevgeny Kafelnikov got Russia off on the right track with a victory Friday against underdog Belgium in the first round of the Davis Cup.
Meanwhile, Andre Agassi posted a win for the U.S. team against Zimbabwe, while Australia opened defense of its title against Switzerland.
In other World Group ties being played over the weekend, the Czech Republic hosts Britain, Italy travels to Spain, Slovakia plays host to Austria, France plays at Brazil, and Germany is home versus the Netherlands.
Kafelnikov, who lost to Agassi in the Australian Open final last week, beat Filip Dewulf in the opening singles at the Olimpiisky Sports Complex on Friday 6-7 (3-7), 6-4, 7-5, 6-2. Kafelnikov was to be followed by Marat Safin against Christophe Rochus.
In doubles, it will be Andrei Cherkasov and Safin vs. Christophe and Olivier Rochus. Cherkasov took Andrei Olkovsky's spot after the doubles specialist bowed out of the tie with a knee injury.
In Sunday's reverse singles, Kafelnikov will face Rochus and Safin will take on Dewulf.
Fresh off his victory at the Australian Open, his third Grand Slam title in eight months, Agassi spearheaded a makeshift U.S. side against a potentially tough Zimbabwe team in Harare with a 7-5, 6-3, 7-5 victory over Zimbabwe's Wayne Black on Friday.
With Pete Sampras and Todd Martin forced out with injuries, team captain John McEnroe called on Chris Woodruff and Rick Leach to step in at the last minute. Zimbabwe, meanwhile, is led by the veteran Davis Cup combination of brothers Wayne and Byron Black.
Woodruff was to face Byron Black in the second singles Friday. In Saturday's doubles, Leach and Alex O'Brien, who have never played doubles together before, will team up against Wayne Black and Kevin Ullyett. In Sunday's reverse singles, it will be Agassi vs. Byron Black, and Woodruff vs. Wayne Black.
In Zurich, Lleyton Hewitt and Mark Philippoussis give defending champion Australia a powerful lineup against a modest Swiss team decimated by internal feuding.
Hewitt opened Friday against little known George Bastl, while Philippoussis was to follow against 18-year-old Roger Federer.
The Swiss are without their longtime Davis Cup anchor, Marc Rosset, who walked out after a dispute with new team captain Jacob Hlasek.
In Germany, Leipzig is staging the first Davis Cup match ever played in former East Germany.
Tommy Haas opened play against the Netherlands' John van Lottum, with Rainer Schuettler facing Sjeng Schalken in the second singles.
Both teams will be without their top players after German No. 1 Nicolas Kiefer opted out and Dutch No. 1 Richard Krajicek suffered an injury.
Britain will be without injured Greg Ruseski when it faces the Czechs in Ostrava. But the Brits have Tim Henman, who will attempt to win three points.
Henman played Slava Dosedel in the opening singles, while Jamie Delgado, who steps in for Rusedski, faced veteran Jiri Novak. Henman will also play doubles, teaming with Neil Broad against Novak and Davis Rikl.
On red clay, Brazil's Gustavo Kuerten plays in front of his hometown fans in Florianopolos against a French team led by Cedric Pioline. The opening match pitted Pioline against Fernando Melligeni, with Kuerten up next against Jerome Golmard. Kuerten, the former French Open champion, will team up in doubles with Jaime Oncins against Piolineand Nicolas Escude.
Also on red clay, in Murcia, Spain send out Albert Costa and Alex Corretja against Italy's Davide Sanguinetti and Andrea Gaudenzi.
In Bratislava, Karol Kucera and Dominik Hrbaty lead the Slovaks against Austria's Markus Hipfl and Stefan Koubek.
- Russia vs. Belgium. Saturday's matches begin at 1:45 p.m., Sunday's matches at 1 p.m. Tickets cost from 80 to 200 rubles. Olimpiisky Sports Complex, 16 Prospekt Mira, M. Prospekt Mira, Tel. 288-2918.
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