Scud gets cold shoulder
By LINDA PEARCE
BRISBANE
Sunday 16 July 2000



Mark Philippoussis can start making his holiday plans for December, unless there is a dramatic change of heart by Davis Cup selectors. Australian captain John Newcombe said after yesterday's semi-final victory over Brazil that the current team would probably be retained for the final, meaning there would be no place in it for Philippoussis.

Australia qualified for consecutive Davis Cup deciders after Mark Woodforde and Sandon Stolle - the latter a late inclusion when Philippoussis withdrew citing post-Wimbledon knee soreness and fatigue, and first-choice replacement Todd Woodbridge was unavailable at short notice - combined for their first win together in three attempts.

The pair's absorbing 6-7 (3-7), 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 defeat of Gustavo Kuerten and Jaime Oncins, over three hours 25minutes at ANZ Stadium, gave Australia a 3-0 lead before today's meaningless reverse singles rubbers, and the chance to defend its title against either Spain or the United States from December 8.

With Newcombe confirming he had abandoned his policy of picking three singles players in favor of including a specialist doubles pair, the ill-feeling among the remaining squad members towards Philippoussis means the hero of last year's victory over France is unlikely to appear in the final tie of Newcombe and coach Tony Roche's seven-year reign.

"Let's not get carried away here; there's a long way to go before December," Newcombe said. "But right now, it's looking like the team that did the job in the semis will be the team that does the job in the final."

Newcombe then repeated that sentiment when asked if it meant Philippoussis would not be selected even if he made himself available.

Pat Rafter, Lleyton Hewitt and Woodforde, who emerged from his brief Davis Cup retirement in March when it became apparent he was needed to bolster the left doubles court, are certainties, injuries permitting. Woodbridge is almost certain to be unavailable, with his wife Natasha expecting the couple's first child in Florida in December.

So Stolle is now the frontrunner for the fourth spot, having improved his Davis Cup record to 1-3 with a popular and overdue victory. "I think that was pretty important for Sandon today, to get that win to pass the barrier to the final," Newcombe said. "At this stage, they're looking pretty good to be the doubles pair for the final."

Only three nations since the current world group system was introduced in 1981 have won back-to-back titles. Australia, having beaten France away on indoor clay last December, should now face Spain on the same surface in Barcelona a year later, with the Spaniards expected to defeat a depleted US team in Santander in the remaining semi-final next weekend.

"We go on to Spain unless the United States can cause an upset," Newcombe said, disappointed that the hoped-for finale at Melbourne Park is considered only a 20 per cent chance of materialising. "I've got this feeling that we're going to take the Spanish out on their own home (clay) courts."

Kuerten, who agreed to anchor Brazil's last-gasp effort to prolong the semi-final despite indicating on Friday he would miss the pivotal rubber with a groin injury, is expected to withdraw from this morning's dead reverse singles against Hewitt.

He is likely to be replaced by fourth squad member Andre Sa.

That would leave Fernando Meligeni to follow against Rafter, who joined in last night's team celebrations but, unlike in 1997 when Australia last held a 3-0 lead in a world group tie, and Rafter admitted he was still drunk when he took the court against the Czech Republic the following day, silence will be the team policy. "He'll do what he has to do," Newcombe joked when asked about Rafter's party plans. "Just put a zipper over his mouth tomorrow."