DUESSELDORF, Germany, 22 May 2004 — Revitalized Mark Philippoussis staged his third recovery of a turnaround week Friday, saving two match points to defeat Mariano Zabaleta and keep Australia’s hopes for a final alive at the 2.1-million-euros World Team Championships.

The Scud, who came to the clay of the Rochuesclub carrying an eight-match loss streak stretching back to January, continued his tennis rebirth as he stormed to a 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 win.

His victory threw the last Blue Group tie into a deciding doubles rubber after Gaston Gaudio gave the 2002 South American holders an early lead by beating Lleyton Hewitt 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (7-5).

In the day’s other tie between Blue group losers, the Netherlands defeated the luckless US 2-0, to leave them winless for the week.

French Open finalist Martin Verkerk saddled sagging Vince Spadea with a third loss of the week without a victory, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2, while John van Lottum saved two match points in the second set on the way to overcoming Robby Ginepri 5-7, 7-6 (8-6), 6-1.

Belgium’s Malisse Beats Melzer to Reach St. Poelten Final

Belgium’s Xavier Malisse overpowered Austrian Juergen Melzer 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 yesterday to advance to the final of the St. Poelten Grand Prix.

Melzer started well but faded after the first set as Malisse, who had begun by making a string of errors, recovered and played strongly from the baseline. Both players were unseeded.

Davenport Advances to Strasbourg Open Final

American Lindsay Davenport made quick work of defending Strasbourg Open winner Silvia Farina Elia of Italy yesterday to advance to the finals of the clay-court tournament.

The towering Californian crushed Farina Elia 6-2, 6-0, and will face Luxembourg’s Claudine Schaul in Saturday’s final of the $170,000 event. Schaul also cruised to a straight sets win in the semifinals, eliminating France’s Emilie Loit, the No. 4 seed.