TENNIS ROUNDUP : Masur’s Victory Over Jaite Gives Australia 2-0 Lead

Wally Masur rallied to defeat Martin Jaite in a five-set struggle Friday at Sydney, Australia, to give Australia to a 2-0 lead over Argentina in their Davis Cup semifinal.

Masur defeated Jaite, 3-6, 6-7 (7-4), 6-4, 6-0, 6-2, in just under three hours.

Jaite looked in command after winning the first two sets, but Masur gained in confidence as the match progressed and his serve-volley game came together. He dropped only seven points in the fourth set and reeled off four games in a row to clinch the victory.

Earlier Friday (Thursday night in the United States), Pat Cash gave Australia a 1-0 lead with a 6-1, 6-1, 6-2 victory over Alberto Mancini.

If Australia wins, it will play the winner of the U.S.-Austria semifinal Nov. 30-Dec. 2.

Conchita Martinez of Spain defeated fifth-seeded Rachel McQuillan of Australia, 6-4, 6-3, to reach the semifinals of the $150,000 Paris Open women’s tournament.

Martinez, the No. 10 player in the world and top-seeded in this tournament, will meet fourth-seeded Julie Halard of France, who defeated Debbie Graham, 6-7 (7-2), 6-2, 6-3.

Second-seeded Sandra Cecchini of Italy eliminated Regina Rejchrtova of Czechoslovakia, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, and will play Patricia Tarabini of Argentina, who beat Petra Langrova of Czechoslovakia, 6-4, 6-3.