Aussies lead China 2-1 in Davis Cup tennis

SYDNEY (AAP) - July 09 - The serving power of Chris Guccione and returning prowess of Lleyton Hewitt earned Australia a crucial doubles victory and a 2-1 lead over China in the Asia-Oceania Davis Cup tennis tie in Beijing on Saturday.
With the first day singles split following a loss to debutant Marinko Matosevic and a win to Bernard Tomic, the doubles, played in front of a capacity crowd, was pivotal.
Hewitt and Guccione ultimately prevailed 6-4 6-4 6-4 over Gong Mao-Xin and Li Zhe.
Left-hander Guccione remained unbroken for the entire match and served out each of the three sets, while Hewitt dropped his delivery just once in the first set.
Pugnacious Hewitt kept the Chinese pairing under constant pressure with his consistency on return of serve.
The Australians broke in the opening game of the match and staved off three break points on the Hewitt delivery in the fourth game.
The visiting pair secured the decisive break of the second set in the seventh game and took a stranglehold on the match with a further break in the fifth game of the third.
Australian captain Pat Rafter said he would wait to Sunday morning before deciding whether to use Hewitt in the reverse singles.
Hewitt as been troubled by a foot problem in recent months and Rafter wanted to see how his veteran pulled up on Sunday.