ANDRE AGASSI and his American Davis Cup teammates face a potentially hazardous trip to Brazil when they launch their 1997 world group campaign next February.

Less than 24 hours after the International Tennis Federation (ITF) completed an investigation into the volatile crowd behaviour which prompted an Austrian walk-out at last month's qualifying tie in Sao Paolo, yesterday's draw offered an instant test of character for the American players and the Brazilian organisers.

The Davis Cup committee yesterday dismissed Austrian appeals for a rematch, ruling the 4-1 victory to Brazil should stand despite claims by world number three Thomas Muster that spectators had threatened his life.

"The ITF demonstrated its refusal to be flexible," Muster commented.

The Austrian Tennis Federation vice-president, Christian Ransmayer, announced that a decision on whether Austria would take the case to a civil court would be made on Friday.

It was no surprise therefore when ITF president Brian Tobin shut his eyes and turned away as he drew the balls from the hat, aware of the significance of the choice of venue once the two countries had been paired together.

Brazil have been sanctioned in the recent past for over-excitable crowd behaviour during Davis Cup ties, but Tobin pointed out that steps had been taken to improve security and crowd control.

"There's always a noisy crowd in South America. Most of the things they were accused of by Austria were not substantiated," he said.

Even if they survive their opening challenge, the Americans will still face an uphill struggle to reach the final.

This year's finalists France are in the same half of the draw, as are the Czech Republic, who beat the United States in this year's quarter-finals.

Sweden, who will play hosts to France in next month's final in Malmo, start with a home tie against Switzerland.

. British number two Greg Rusedski maintained his fine recent form by reaching the second round of the Beijing Open yesterday. Rusedski, beat Russian Andrei Olhovskiy 6-3 6-0.