The Australian team swept to a 3-1 lead over the Americans last night in the best of seven "World Championship" with a singles and a doubles victory here at Harvard's Palmer Dixon Courts. Arthur Ashe and Clark Graebner tell to Aussies Fred Stolle and John Newcombe in the doubles while Newcombe defeated Stan Smith in the singles.

The Australian doubles team withstood a comeback by Ashe and Graebner to bring the Aussies within one victory of winning the 811,000 first prize. taking the match 8-6, 4-6 10-8.

Newcombe rebounded from his loss last night to Cliff Richey to defeat Smith, the top ranked player in America. 7-5. 6-3

The competition, although labeled "World Championship" by its promoters, is meaningless as an indicaton of national tennis superiority. Neither of the top two players in the world, Australians Rod Laver and Tony Roche, chose to enter the tournament.

The Australians are represented by only two men. Newcombe and Stolle, while the American players are drawn from the U. S. Davis Cup Team.