Former world No.1 Lleyton Hewitt and Mark Philippoussis both survived tough matches as Australia edged out the United States 2-1 at the World Team Cup.

Philippoussis erased a 5-2 deficit and a match point in the third set to beat Scottsdale winner Vincent Spadea 6-7 (1-7) 6-3 7-6 (7-4). Hewitt edged Robby Ginepri 7-5 6-7 (1-7) 6-4.

In the doubles match, Bob and Mike Bryan earned the United States a point by beating Wayne Arthurs and Paul Hanley 6-2 6-4.

Argentina also won both singles matches to defeat the Netherlands 3-0.

Gaston Gaudio edged Martin Verkerk 4-6 6-2 6-4 and Juan Ignacio Chela came through a marathon battle with Sjeng Schalken to win 6-3 5-7 7-5.

In the doubles, Lucas Arnold and Mariano Zabaleta made it a clean sweep by defeating John van Lottum and Verkerk 3-6 6-3 6-3.

Spadea was favoured against Philippoussis, who had lost eight consecutive matches since reaching the fourth round of the Australian Open in January. But the Australian played well at the net and refused to buckle in a contest that lasted almost three hours.

Spadea took the first set on a tiebreaker after trailing 4-2, benefiting from a Philippoussis double-fault on break point in the eighth game and then recovering after not converting two set points at 5-4.

Philippoussis leveled at one set all after a dropshot gave him a break for 4-2, and in the third set Spadea broke for a 3-1 lead with a backhand return. At 5-3, Spadea reached match point but the Australian played himself out of trouble with a winning forehand. And although Spadea held off a break point at 5-5, he was outplayed in the tiebreaker.

"I had my chances, didn't win the point that counted and lost a close tiebreaker," Spadea said.

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