Chile win first point against Japan in Davis Cup series
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2004-09-25 12:50

Chilean Nicolas Massu, number 10 in the ATP ranking, defeated his Japanese rival Gouichi Motomura (number 288) 6-1, 6-1 and 6-1 in their Davis Cup tie on Friday.

In the first game at the Chilean city of Vina del Mar, Massu gave his country the first point in their tie to define who will win a berth for the Davis Cup World Group next year.

The match was competed at Campo Las Salinas Naval Club, with 5,200 expectators and started with an unclear game by the Chilean, who lost the first point of the match with several errors that were not forced.

Then Massu recovered to win the set 6-1 in 27 minutes. He won the second and third sets in identical scores in 37 and 29 minutes, respectively.

The second match will be between Fernando Gonzalez (21) from Chile, and Japan's Takao Suzuki (201).

Gonzalez is favorite, in particular considering the Japanese has not defeated a tennist of Gonzalez's level since 1998, when he defeated Thomas Enqvist, who then was seeded 23rd.

On Saturday, the doubles match will be competed between Massu and Gonzalez, and Thomas Shimada (120) and Takahiro Terachi (936).

Prior to the doubles, there will be a tribute to Chilean tennist Marcelo Rios, former world's number one, who announced his retirement from professional tennis.

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