A Davis Cup gone wrong in so many ways for the United States ended with one final indignity.
The United States, having lost the final the previous day, dropped both singles matches Sunday, completing a 5-0 sweep by Sweden for its sixth Davis Cup title.The last time the Americans were shut out in the Davis Cup was 1973. That was against Australia in Cleveland, with Rod Laver and John Newcombe defeating Stan Smith, Tom Gorman and doubles player Erik van Dillen.
On Sunday, Jonas Bjorkman beat Jonathan Stark 6-1, 6-1, then Magnus Larsson downed Michael Chang 7-6 (7-4), 6-7 (6-8), 6-4. Chang dropped the opening singles Friday followed by Pete Sampras' default because of a pulled calf muscle.
On Saturday, the doubles team of Stark and Todd Martin was beaten in straight sets by Bjorkman and Nicklas Kulti.
By Sunday, when this one-sided affair was over, U.S. captain Tom Gullikson was reduced to the oldest of promises when addressing the crowd after the awards ceremony.
"We will be back next year," he said.
Sunday's singles were reduced to best-of-3 sets. And although the matches had no bearing on the outcome, the 11,000-seat Scandinavium hall was nearly full.
"I am proud of my team," Swedish captain Carl-Axel Hageskog said. "They did a fantastic job. I didn't think we could win them all. We had luck on our side. It was a pity for Pete, for the U.S. team, that he was injured."
Chang did his best to avert a sweep. He saved one match point at 5-4 in the second set and won the tiebreaker. But he dropped his serve in the first game of the decisive set and was unable to break back.
The last time a Davis Cup final ended in a 5-0 sweep was in 1987 when Sweden beat India, also in Goteborg.
With Stefan Edberg retired, Bjorkman has stepped in to carry Sweden's torch. He ended a remarkable year on a high note by dominating Stark.
"This is my year," Bjorkman said. "Everything I do is going my way."
Bjorkman has surged from No. 69 to No. 4 in the world in 11 months, winning three titles this year. His singles record is 71-26.
In the Davis Cup semifinal against Italy, Bjorkman won both singles and the doubles, and did it again in the final.
Unlike top American players who often are unwilling to play the early rounds, the Swedes stick together. Although retired, Edberg was with the Swedes the entire weekend, cheering from the bench.
"When I start my year, I put the Davis Cup weeks in my schedule," Bjorkman said.
Sampras has said he won't be available for the early rounds next year, but he is willing to play in the semifinals and the championship if the Americans get that far. The United States has won the title a record 31 times.
"We go on a round-by-round basis," Gullikson said. "I haven't had time to talk to the guys that much about next year."
Another key factor for Sweden was its doubles team. The Americans often use makeshift combinations, while Bjorkman and Kulti have been playing together a long time.
"If one American team can stand out and dominate in their play throughout the year and then start winning Davis Cup matches, that would certainly be my first choice, rather than trying to change teams all the time," Gullikson said.
"I'd love all the American players to play with other Americans. That would be my first choice. They have to play 30 weeks a year. It's up to them. My input would be, `Play with other Americans.' But it's their decision. I can't break their arm."
Hageskog has no such problems.
"To play the Davis Cup, you have to have a good doubles team. And we have that," he said. "We have a good organization in Swedish tennis. The clubs are doing a great job. We are a small country and tennis is popular. All the kids want to play tennis."