Tennis: Hewitt helps Australia to 2-0 lead in qualifier

PERTH, Australia -- Lleyton Hewitt set an Australian Davis Cup record Friday, claiming his 25th singles victory against Morocco's Mehdi Tahiri in a World Group qualifier.

Hewitt, the U.S. Open runner-up, beat Tahiri 6-0, 6-2, 6-2 on the grass at Royal Kings Park, and Wayne Arthurs defeated Mounir el Aarej 7-6 (8-6), 6-4, 6-3 as Australia took a 2-0 lead.

Hewitt, who has played in the Davis Cup just six years, eclipsed the previous mark of 24 wins, established by Adrian Quist over a 16-year period from 1933-48. Hewitt has won his last eight Davis Cup singles matches, 14 of his last 15 and is 25-5 overall.

"All the talk was on that, but I wasn't really concentrating on it," Hewitt said of the record. "I'm only 23 so, hopefully, I can build a little bit of a gap on the next guy."

Hewitt said team competition brings out his best play.