Tennis-Philippoussis rules out Davis Cup return

PARIS, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Mark Philippoussis ruled out on Wednesday any chance of making himself available for Australia's Davis Cup final against Spain in Barcelona next month.

Australia could be without teenage star Lleyton Hewitt -- who is suffering from a mystery allergy -- for the defence of the title they won by beating France in last year's final.

Philippoussis vowed not to play in the Davis Cup again this year after falling out with team mate Pat Rafter. Earlier this year Rafter accused him of lacking commitment to Australia's campaign to win the Cup.

Philippoussis said he would not go back on that decision even if Hewitt is forced out of the final.

"I hope everything is OK with Lleyton and that it is nothing serious but I've made my decision and it is still going to be 'no'," the Australian said at the Tennis Masters Series event in Paris.

Rafter said that although he and Philippoussis had sorted out their differences, he respected Philippoussis' decision.

"He thinks it is best he should sit it out. We say maybe we should just leave the team as it's been for the year and start from scratch next year," Rafter said.

"It would have been great to have him on board, but so many things have been said and done. So we are just leaving it alone."

The Australians have a two-week training camp scheduled for Marbella ahead of the Davis Cup final but Hewitt could miss the second week if he recovers from the illness and chooses to play in the Tennis Masters Cup starting on November 27.

Despite withdrawing from the Paris tournament, the upset of other seeds mean he is almost certain to qualify for the season-ending event in Lisbon.

Scud rules out final


From our wire services
16nov00

PARIS: Mark Philippoussis said here overnight he is not going to be part of his country's Davis Cup final team in Barcelona next month even if Lleyton Hewitt does not recover from a virus in time.

Hewitt had to withdraw on Tuesday from the $US2.95 million ($5.7m) Paris Masters Series with a virus which has dogged him for several months.

But Philippoussis said he wouldn't be stepping into the breach under any circumstances.

"For Davis Cup I've made my decision and it's no," he said.

When pressed on whether he might possibly return to the fold next year the Australian said he hadn't made up his mind.

"I haven't made that decision yet. After the Australian Open I might make a decision. I hope everything's going to be okay with Lleyton," he said.