Despite a loss by top-ranked Pete Sampras, the United States beat Russia 2-1 at the World Team Cup on Saturday with victories by Todd Martin and the doubles team.
Sampras, who has been bothered by back spasms, was beaten by Yevgeny Kafelnikov 6-3, 6-2 in a match that lasted only 47 minutes.But Martin fought off a match point to beat Russian Davis Cup veteran Andrei Chesnokov 5-7, 7-6 (8-6), 6-4 in the second singles match. Then Richey Reneberg and Jonathan Stark won the decisive doubles over Chesnokov and Alexander Volkov 7-6 (7-5), 6-4.
The loss by Russia clinched the Blue Group championship for the Czech Republic in the round-robin tournament. The Czech team, which finished unbeaten and with a 7-2 record in individual matches, will play Red Group winner Switzerland in Sunday's finals.
The United States had been eliminated from contention for the finals before Saturday's matches against Russia.
Sampras, who pulled out of a match Thursday because of back problems, said his back didn't bother him Saturday. He expects to play in the French Open next week.
"The back was not the problem - I'm just rusty," Sampras said. "Now I've caught a cold, but in spite of that, I'm feeling relatively fit."
However, Kafelnikov said he felt Sampras was still hurting.
"I'm very happy with my game today, but Sampras wasn't 100 percent fit - he still seems to have big problems with his back," the Russian said.
It was Sampras' first tournament since the death of his coach, Tim Gullikson, on May 3.
Gusting rains delayed play in the final Blue Group matchup between the Czech Republic and the Netherlands, which ended 1-1.
Czech Petr Korda, who is undefeated at the event, blasted Richard Krajicek 6-1, 6-1, while the Dutch doubles team of Jan Siemerink and Paul Haarhuis edged Daniel Vacek and Jiri Novak 2-6, 7-5, 7-5.
At Madrid, Spain, Jana Novotna outlasted Magdalena Maleeva 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 Saturday to win the Madrid Open, the women's final tuneup for the French Open.
With Monica Seles out with an aching shoulder and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario knocked out in the semifinal, the player from the Czech Republic had a much easier time winning the title for the first time.
At Edinburgh, Scotland, Nicole Arendt of the United States and Dutch player Manon Bollegraf capitalized on errors to upset top seeds Gigi Fernandez and Natasha Zvereva 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (8-6) Saturday to capture the World Doubles Cup title.