NICE, Dec 5 (Reuters) - A blistering performance from Mark Philippoussis saw

the Australian steam-roller France's Cedric Pioline 6-3 5-7 6-1 6-2 and hand

Australia the centennial Davis Cup on Sunday.

The 23-year-old's booming serve and thunderous groundstrokes neutered

France's home advantage and the slow clay court surface at Nice's Exhibition

Centre.

The victory gave Australia a winning 3-1 lead and their 27th Davis Cup

triumph -- second only to the United States with 31 -- but it was their first

since 1986.

The success helped erase the painful memory of the 1993 final when they were

beaten by Germany in Duesseldorf.

Philippoussis's win capped a solid team performance from John Newcombe's men.

On Saturday Mark Woodforde and Todd Woodbridge beat Olivier Delaitre and

Fabrice Santoro for the first time in three matches to hand Australia the

advantage after Friday's opening singles matches were split.

It was a confident and relaxed Philippoussis who stepped onto the indoor clay

court on Sunday.

A double break in the opening set -- including a Pioline double-fault at set

point down -- saw the Australian romp it 6-3.

He wasted a set point in the second set to allow Pioline back into the match

but at one set all, the Australian stepped up a gear.

A flurry of winners and passing shots flew from Philippoussis's racquet as he

stormed the third set 6-1.

Pioline barely had time to catch his breath before the Australian had sewn up

the match 6-2 in the fourth set.

Philippoussis ran to the courtside to embrace his team mates and captain

Newcombe while Pioline wept in his chair.

10:35 12-05-99

By Rex Gowar - Reuters:

NICE, France, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Mark Philippoussis completed a transformation

from Davis Cup villain to hero on Sunday as he beat France's Cedric Pioline

in four sets to give Australia the centennial title.

The victory by Philippoussis put Australia into an unassailable 3-1 lead with

one reverse singles still to play.

Philippoussis, who refused to play Davis Cup last year after a bust-up with

captain John Newcombe, beat Pioline 6-3 5-7 6-1 6-2 in two hours and 42

minutes.

``That was the best and most intelligent match Mark has played in his life,''

an elated Newcombe said afterwards.

``He had no highs and lows in the match, he was always playing to a high

standard. Now everyone knows he can win the French Open,'' he said.

The victory was Australia's 27th Davis Cup triumph -- second only to the

United States with 31 -- but it was their first since 1986.

The success helped erase the painful memory of the 1993 final when they were

beaten by Germany in Duesseldorf.

Philippoussis's win capped a solid team performance from Newcombe's men.

On Saturday Mark Woodforde and Todd Woodbridge beat Olivier Delaitre and

Fabrice Santoro for the first time in three matches to hand Australia the

advantage after Friday's opening singles matches were split.

CONFIDENT AND RELAXED

It was a confident and relaxed Philippoussis who stepped onto the indoor clay

court on Sunday and by the end, the player had shown his progress as an all

round performer on any surface.

He won the first set on two double faults by Pioline, the first for a break

of serve in the opening game of the match.

Pioline double faulted on the first set point he faced, serving at 3-5.

The Frenchman hit back in the second set, though, saving a set-point as he

went on to win it 7-5.

Philippoussis looked on the ropes when Pioline won two brilliant points to go

30-0 up on the Australian's serve at the start of the third set.

But two Pioline returns into the net helped Philippoussis ride the crisis and

he avoided the break with an ace.

The Australian went on to break the Frenchman's next two service games and

then take the set 6-1 on his third set point to go 2-1 up half an hour later.

Philippoussis, more and more effective at the net and on first serve, never

released his grip as Pioline became increasingly despondent, mixing winners

with unforced errors.

The French number one barely had time to catch his breath before the

Australian had sewn up the match 6-2 in the fourth set.

Philippoussis ran to the courtside to embrace his team mates and captain

Newcombe while Pioline wept in his chair. French captain Guy Forget, whose

team were gunning for a hat-trick of victories in the 1990s, said: ``This is

a sad moment for the team.''

11:36 12-05-99

(Oncourt.com, 12/06/1999)

Mark Philippoussis has jettisoned a dubious Davis Cup record and cemented his

status as an Australian Davis Cup legend in the space of one Tie after

beating Cedric Pioline to lead Australia to its first Davis Cup trophy since

1986. The Scud, who only returned to Australia's Davis Cup team due to the

unavailability of Pat Rafter, brutalised Pioline with awesome power, winning

6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 to claim a fitting victory for Australia, the second most

successful Davis Cup nation, in the 100th year of the competition.

Throughout the match Pioline was forced to play his best tennis to keep pace

with Philippoussis, who consistently hit with fierce power and heavy topspin

to keep the pressure on his opponent. Pioline was always going to face a

danger period as the match wore on, as logic dictated that at some stage his

intensity would have to lapse at some stage.

And so it did in the third set. Pioline had just saved a set point (which

would have put him down two sets to love) and claimed the second set to

square the match. But, as the Philippoussis onslaught continued unabated,

Pioline went off the boil and lost five consecutive games. In all, Pioline

won just three games in the final two sets. Philippoussis fired 15 aces and

blasted 30 winners - three times as many as Pioline - in arguably his best

match ever.

"Mark's mental concentration was the key today," Aussie captain John Newcombe

said. "He was too strong mentally for Cedric. There were now lows or highs -

he was just consistently strong throughout the match. Cedric had a low at the

end of the second set and never got back into the match. It's the best match

Mark has ever played mentally."

Philippoussis agreed with Newcombe's assessment: "I played unbelievably

today, and I've never been so mentally focussed before. At the moment I'm

more mentally tired than physically tired. I tried to block out the crowd

noise and focus on the match and my teammates on the side of the court. They

could blow their horns for as long as they liked - it wasn't going to worry

me."

The last time Australia won a Cup Final on foreign soil was 1973 in

Cleveland, when Newcombe and the great Rod Laver demolished the Americans 5-0.

Had Pat Rafter been fit to play, it is unlikely that Philippoussis would have

even made the team. Rafter would have been an automatic selection as

Australia's No.1 player, and selectors would have been loath to call a halt

to Lleyton Hewitt's extraordinary, unbeaten debut season (as it then stood).

Before the Cup Final, Philippoussis' Davis Cup record was modest at best.

Although he took a 6-4 winning record into the Final, the biggest scalp on

his belt was Zimbabwean doubles specialist Wayne Black. The Scud dropped his

only live singles rubber this year to Byron Black, and he hadn't played Davis

Cup since Australia's first-round Tie in Harare.

How the match was won

First set

Philippoussis struck the first blow when he broke Pioline in the first game

of the match. The Frenchman saved two break points at 15-40 and had one game

point of his own but, when facing his third break point, he double faulted.

With the break in hand Philippoussis held nothing back with his ferocious

groundstrokes, intimidating Pioline with his raw power, but clocking up a

high error count early, before finding his rhythm midway through the set.

But the Scud afforded himself the luxury of early inconsistency from the

baseline because of his an awesome serving performance. In contrast to

Pioline's woeful first serve percentages, Philippoussis won a number of cheap

points on his thumping first serve - regularly clocked at over 200kph - and

conceded just two points in his first three service games.

Philippoussis had one nervous moment at 0-30 in the seventh game, but

responded by winning four straight points to move to 5-3. Then, two clean

backhand winners off two Pioline first serves saw the Scud race to 0-30 en

route to claiming a second break of serve, with a ruffled Pioline double

faulting on set point to hand the set to the Aussie after 37 minutes.

Second Set

Starting the second set totally on the back foot, Pioline suddenly changed

the momentum of the match by breaking Philippoussis in the first game and

then holding to love to jump to a 2-0 lead. Pioline continued to attack the

net when possible, challenging Philippoussis to come up with a winning

passing shot. Crucially, Pioline's early break also got the crowd pumping

again after French fans were subdued after seeing their No.1 beaten so

comprehensively in the first set.

But Philippoussis' groundstroke power proved telling on Pioline's next

service game, converting break point with a trademark heavy off-forehand

which was a clean winner as soon as it left the Scud's racquet.

At 4-4, Pioline momentarily blunted the Philippoussis serve and earned two

break points. At 15-40, a great backhand return at full stretch drew a weak

half-volley from Philippoussis, who backtracked to the baseline. Pioline

seemed to be in control of the point, but a regulation off-forehand landed

wide. A mishit backhand from a heavily-kicking Philippoussis second serve

returned the score to deuce. A Philippoussis ace wide to the forehand - his

10th of the match - and a brilliant scramble at the net saw Philippoussis

hold.

Pioline faced a set point at 4-5 but produced some brilliance at the net -

when he was forced to play three testing volleys - to deny the Aussie. Then

an old foe cost Philippoussis dearly in the next game. After scrambling back

from 0-30 to 30-30, Philippoussis threw in a double fault to go down break

point. After a lengthy rally, Philippoussis was enticed by an open forehand

court to load up on a big forehand, but he blasted it long. Pioline then held

serve to love to win the set 7-5 in 47 minutes.

Third Set

On the first point, when caught between the service and baselines, Pioline

reflexed back a full-blooded Philippoussis smash, when basically just trying

to protect himself, and went on to win the point. He then rocketed the

sweetest of backhands down the line past a bemused Philippoussis to jump to a

0-30 lead and send the French crowd into delirium. But Philippoussis showed

remarkable poise to come back from the onslaught and hold serve.

The match turned again in the next game when a Pioline double fault and a

regulation forehand volley error presented Philippoussis with a chance at

30-40, which he duly converted to take a 2-0 lead. But the Scud had to save a

break point before extending the lead to 3-0. A second break then followed

when Pioline netted a forehand volley at 30-40 to go down 0-4. Philippoussis

held his next two service games to take the set 6-2.

Fourth Set

After failing to convert a break point in Pioline's first service game of the

fourth set, Philippoussis brutalised the Frenchman with three consecutive

clean winners to race to a 0-40 lead in the third game. Another huge return

at the feet of Pioline, and a clean backhand pass from midcourt at 15-40,

secured the break. Philippoussis consolidated the break to go 3-1 up. In his

next game Pioline asked the question by getting to 30-30. Philippoussis

answered with consecutive aces to go ahead 4-2. Then, facing a break point at

30-40, Pioline sprayed another easy forehand volley to go down a double break

at 2-5. Four points later the Cup belonged to Australia.

END

Final 99, FRA vs. AUS

Nice, Dec. 5

(DC Site, 12/05/1999)

Mark Philippoussis will be remembered as the big hero of this 1999 Davis Cup

final. The number one player of the Aussie team proved to everyone that

indeed, he could play on clay as well as anyone, winning convincingly both

his matches this week end in Nice. Today, by defeating Cedric Pioline in four

sets, 6-3, 5-7, 6-1,6-2, he offered Australia its 27th Davis Cup victory, and

a very special one, obtained on the centennary year.

John Newcombe was right when he said on Saturday after the Aussies' success

in doubles where they came back from a desperate situation: "France had the

momentum going with them at the beginning today. Now the Woodies have turned

the momentum going with us."

The confidence with which Philippoussis started the match proved him right.

The Australian broke as early as the opening game, with Pioline committing a

double fault. The consistency Philippoussis was showing during the rallies,

and the power generated from his shots prevented the Frenchman who was

serving rather poorly (only 38% of first serves) to recover, as Pioline went

on to drop his serve once again and with it the set 3-6.

The second set was undoubtedly the best of the match. Carried by a

deliriously hopeful public, Pioline broke in the opening game. But in the

fourth game, he played a bad service game to allow the Australian back into

the set. Again at 4 games all, Pioline found himself leading 15-40, without

being able to capitalise on the chances, and a few points later, a good

service return forcing Pioline to miss his volley, offered Philippoussis a

set point. Fighting as if his life depended on it, Pioline covered the net

beautifully, and made a backhand drop volley which forced his opponent to

miss a forehand on the run. Back in the set, loudly encouraged after each

point, Pioline took advantage of a few mistakes to break serve and capture

the set 7-5. Suddenly, it was a whole new match which was starting.

The first two points of the third set were superbly won by a Pioline who was

playing out of his mind to lead 0-30. He had the momentum, and Philippoussis

looked like he had to have a hard time stopping him. But as it ended up, it

was all illusion. Stronger mentally, Philippoussis came back even harder,

firing his winners from every corner of the court. 32 minutes later, he had

won the set 61. As hard as he tried, Pioline was never in a position to stop

him again, dropping his serve twice more in the fourth, to finally lose 6-2

on a last return into the net.

While Philippoussis was carried by all his team-mates around the court,

Pioline, emotionnally drained, burst into tears, as Forget and Grosjean came

to cheer him up. The emotion of not being able to have a great finish to a

great Davis Cup year where he proved himself as the undeniable leader of his

team was too overwhelming for him.

"This is definitely the greatest moment of my career" Philippoussis admitted

later while Newcombe warned the French. "Now you know that Mark can win

Roland Garros." But for Philippoussis it was rather time to enjoy his

achievement of the week end. Later tonight, he may drink ouzo out of the

Davis Cup, before it is flown down-under, for the millenium change.

END

By Rex Gowar

NICE, France, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Mark Philippoussis, at odds with Australia's

tennis establishment a year ago, was his nation's hero on Sunday as he led

them to their 27th Davis Cup crown.

``Yes, why not,'' he said, when asked if he thought he was a hero, but he

pointed out it was, above all, a team effort and a well-deserved victory for

Australia.

``I feel great and the whole team feels great. We've really felt, as a team,

we deserve it,'' he said.

The world No 19 crushed France's top player Cedric Pioline 6-3 5-7 6-1 6-2 to

give Australia an unassailable 3-1 lead with one reverse singles still to

play between Lleyton Hewitt and Sebastien Grosjean.

Australia eventually won 3-2 after Grosjean took the last rubber 6-4 6-3.

``I've never concentrated or played as well as today. This is definitely the

best win of my life. It's the real start of my tennis career,'' Philippoussis

said.

SUCCESS ON CRUCIAL POINTS

Pioline, who helped France win the Cup in 1996, said: ``He was very solid

from start to finish. He tried a lot of things and with lots of success,

especially on crucial points.

``I had to do more to force him into mistakes, but I wasn't able to. He

played a big, big match.

``He was maybe lucky at times with the net and the lines but he deserved to

win,'' Pioline, who has now lost all three of his matches against

Philippoussis, said.

Philippoussis, who gave Australia the first point with a three sets win over

Grosjean in the opening singles on Friday, was his team's first string

singles player because Pat Rafter is injured.

Last year, the 23-year-old right hander from Melbourne refused to play Davis

Cup for Australia.

He was upset when Newcombe and assistant coach Tony Roche sat in Rafter's

camp during the all-Australian U.S. Open final which Rafter won.

``I've admitted in the past I made mistakes and said some things that were

wrong,'' he said on Sunday.

This year Rafter and Philippoussis teamed up in the first round victory over

Zimbabwe before a knee injury to Philippoussis put him out of Wimbledon and

out of Australia's Davis Cup quarter-final and semifinal.

``The guys did it in Boston,'' Philippoussis said of the quarter-final

victory over the United States. ``I was injured for Wimbledon... I don't know

if I could have won it but I'd take this over Wimbledon any time.''

WORLD CROWN

Australia, who last won in 1986, took their tally to 27 victories in a year

in which they have also taken the world crown in both rugby codes, cricket

and netball.

Only the United States have won the trophy more times, 31, in 87 finals since

the Davis Cup was created in 1900.

They came into the centennial final as slight favourites with doubts as to

how they would cope on the clay surface chosen by the French.

In the end, the Australians belied their traditional dislike for the surface

as Hewitt gave Pioline a run for his money in three tight sets on Friday and

Mark Woodforde and Todd Woodbridge took Saturday's doubles in four sets.

Newcombe said Philippoussis had shown he had the clay court game to go on and

win the French Open.

``I don't know, it took a lot out of me to win this match and to win Roland

Garros you need seven of these victories. I've just had two,'' Philippoussis

said.

One thing this son of a Greek immigrant is sure to find in France is

something to celebrate the biggest moment of his career so far.

Asked if he would drink something stronger on Sunday night than the water or

orange juice of his changeovers during the match, he smiled: ``I told the

guys to go out and find me some Ouzo.''

12:43 12-05-99

By ANDREAS EVAGORA

.c The Associated Press

NICE, France (AP) - Australia's long, difficult road to the Davis Cup final

ended with toy kangaroos tossed on the court, and Mark Philippoussis enjoying

a tennis moment like no other.

Philippoussis, who did not play any Davis Cup matches last year because of a

dispute with team leaders, beat Cedric Pioline of France 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2

Sunday to conclude the 100th anniversary of the showcase event.

``This is the best moment of my life,'' Philippoussis said. ``I concentrated

really well. I can honestly say that I heard no noise from the crowd, just

the ball hitting the line, the line calls and my heart beating.''

Philippoussis, again relying on his big serve, had 15 aces in a victory that

gave Australia an unbeatable 3-1 lead in the best-of-5 final. This was

Australia's 27th Davis Cup title and its first since 1986.

After the final point, Philippoussis was lifted by his teammates, as hundreds

of cheering Aussies in the crowd waved banners and tossed inflatable

kangaroos.

``I got injured at Wimbledon this year and who knows if I could have gone on

to win there,'' Philippoussis said. ``But I would take this for a Wimbledon

win any time.''

Pioline, perhaps sensing that at age 30 his last chance of a Davis Cup

triumph had gone, was in tears.

In the final reverse singles match, Sebastien Grosjean of France defeated

Lleyton Hewitt 6-4, 6-3, leaving Australia with a 3-2 decision.

Australia began the day with a 2-1 lead after winning Saturday's doubles.

Since 1978, every team that has won the doubles has won the trophy.

Australia eliminated Zimbabwe, the United States and Russia to reach its 44th

Davis Cup final. The team nearly withdrew before its quarterfinal against the

United States when organizers gave the Americans home advantage to celebrate

the event's centenary.

The day began with Philippoussis walking onto a court amid a cauldron of

noise from the crowd of 10,000. But it was Pioline who began uneasily, double

faulting on break point in the first game.

The set ended with Pioline double faulting again on Philippoussis' first set

point.

Philippoussis missed a chance to take the second set when Pioline was serving

at 4-5. Pioline took the set, and the French crowd hoped that would be a

turning point.

But after a long talk from Australian captain John Newcombe, Philippoussis

came out roaring in the third set, surging to a 5-0 lead in 24 minutes.

``If I had done better and given away fewer points that might have changed

the situation,'' Pioline said. ``But the beginning of the fourth set was the

same story.''

In the fourth set, the Aussie ripped four winners past Pioline, including one

blistering forehand on the line that left the Frenchman holding his head.

``That was the best match Mark has played with his head in his life,''

Newcombe said. ``He didn't have highs and lows, just highs.''

NICE, France, Dec 6 AAP - Australia's Davis Cup heroes will be feted with a

ticker tape parade through the streets of Melbourne later this month, with

others expected to follow in other cities.

"There's a parade planned in Melbourne on either December 22 or 23," said

Tennis Australia spokeswoman Lysette Shaw.

"It's up to other cities to invite us to have parades there, but we're

expecting some others."

Lleyton Hewitt is known to be particularly keen for a parade through his home

town Adelaide, also the birthplace of doubles star Mark Woodforde.

Todd Woodbridge's hometown Sydney is also expected to offer a parade, while

Tennis Australia officials are also anticipating an invitation from Brisbane

-- home of the currently injured Pat Rafter -- which hosted the semi-final

against Russia.

Since Philippoussis and Woodbridge live in Florida in the US, parades must be

timed for when all team members are in Australia, hence the idea to wait

until just before Christmas.

AAP tm/gd

AAP, 06/12/99 09:58 AEST

By Trevor Marshallsea

NICE, France, Dec 6 AAP - It started with a chance meeting in a New York bar

after Pat Rafter's 1997 US Open victory, and has grown to the point where

Australia's Davis Cup team wouldn't take the court without them.

They're known as the Fanatics, and the band of semi-organised supporters who

have followed Australia's Davis Cup team this year have, according to captain

John Newcombe, played a significant part in his side's success.

As a player, Newcombe was well aware of the value of travelling fans, and

when he and coach Tony Roche bumped into Sydney economics student and sports

nut Warren Livingstone in New York, they liked what he heard.

"After Pat Rafter's win I put the idea to Newk and Rochey that we should form

a travelling cheer squad," said Livingstone.

"It's basically gone from there. Newk and Rochey have been the driving force

behind it all."

In what sounds like a dream job for any sports fan, Livingstone has been

embraced by Tennis Australia, who pay his airfares and hotel costs as he

follows the team and recruits fans through advertisements in backpackers'

hostels.

At the Davis Cup final in Nice, some 250 Fanatics -- recognisable by their

yellow T-shirts -- cheered, bowed in worship and sang songs to the Australian

team.

Their renditions of Advance Australia Fair were memorable, as was "John

Newcombe - superstar", adapted from the one about the original Messiah, Jesus

Christ.

Others were modelled on English soccer songs, such as "Walking in a 'Poussis

wonderland."

At Newcombe's request, the Fanatics refrained from mimmicking the tactics

during the final of the 10,000 French fans, who collectively cheered after

each Australian service fault. A few also yelled out while Australian players

were in their service backswing.

There can also be no doubting the credentials of an Australian cheer squad

who bans "Aussie Aussie Aussie - Oi, Oi, Oi," from its repertoire.

"We wanted to be a bit more imaginative with the things we sang," said

26-year-old Livingstone, who hands out a song sheet to followers at each

Davis Cup tie.

"Hopefully we're setting a bit of a precedent for Australian sport."

The contribution of the Fanatics received high praise from the Australian

team, who all donned the yellow T-shirts after their final win over France.

"I think they played a very important part, our Fanatics," said Newcombe.

"In each of our Davis Cup matches, they sort of helped. It's part of the

spirit that we've developed as a team."

AAP tm/gd

AAP, 06/12/99 10:12 AEST

(EDS: Note language in last par)

By Trevor Marshallsea

NICE, France, Dec 6 AAP - For all the joy they felt in winning three Davis

Cups as a formidable doubles pairing, John Newcombe and Tony Roche couldn't

remember it feeling this good.

The two men were overjoyed at guiding Australia to their first Davis Cup

victory in 13 years yesterday, and after a rocky six years at the helm as

captain and coach, few could blame them.

When the pair succeeded the long reign of Neale Fraser in 1994 they could not

have imagined it would have been this hard to repeat the Cup success they

tasted as players during some of the glory years of Australian tennis.

In 1995 came the shame of the 3-2 defeat in the qualifying round in Hungary

which relegated Australia from the competition altogether. Later came the

turmoil of last year's 3-2 loss to Zimbabwe in the first round in Mildura.

This, of course, was linked to the eruption of a feud between Mark

Philippoussis, the Newcombe-Roche leadership team, and some players, which

ranks as probably the most bitter in-fighting in Australian tennis history.

But all those struggles were eclipsed as Australia beat France yesterday.

"This is something I've been part of with Newk as a player," said Roche, who

partnered Newcombe in a hat-trick of Cup wins from 1965-67, and who started

out as his co-captain in 1994.

"This is something really special considering what John and myself have been

through over the past six years.

"To finally win one with the group of guys we've got is fantastic.

"When I won as a player it was a long time ago, but I can't believe it was a

better feeling than this."

Newcombe said it was "special" to have overseen the success with his old

friend, but that he would need more time to digest the weekend's win before

comparing it with his playing victories.

"It's an entirely different feeling," he said.

"This was something I set out to do with Tony six years ago. We've got such

close friendship that we've stuck together to try to do this."

Newcombe let slip that he had already been thinking ahead to next year --

envisaged as his and Roche's last in charge -- well before the weekend.

"I was already thinking two weeks ago of how to defend next year," said

Newcombe, anticipating a Melbourne final against the USA in 12 months.

One insight into how highly Newcombe values this success came when he was

asked how the hundred-year-old Davis Cup would fare in the next century.

"Frankly," he said, a cheeky grin spreading beneath his trademark moustache,

"I won't give a shit."

AAP tm/gd

AAP, 06/12/99 10:45 AEST

By Trevor Marshallsea

NICE, France, Dec 6 AAP - Mark Philippoussis raised his fists in ecstasy,

captain John Newcombe put his hands on his head in near disbelief, and their

team-mates on the bench went, in general, wild.

A split second after Frenchman Cedric Pioline hit a forehand into the net on

Philippoussis' first match point to hand Australia victory in the final, 13

years of Davis Cup frustration gave way to fevered celebrations for the

Australian team.

Around 13 of them, team players, reserves and practice partners, coaches and

backup staff, bounced up and down in a group hug near the umpire's chair, as

the Fanatics -- their fans in Nice's Palais Des Expositions -- belted out

Advance Australia Fair.

First Philippoussis was hoisted into the air by his team-mates, then

Newcombe. Once down, he dragged coach Tony Roche onto court and he too was

vaulted up. Then it was the turn of Lleyton Hewitt, who had stepped up to

guide the team through its quarter and semi-finals in his Cup debut.

Philippoussis went to the sideline to embrace Neale Fraser, who guided

Australia to four Cup victories during his reign as captain of more than 20

years.

Clad in their yellow Fanatics' T-shirts, and Philippoussis with an Australian

flag draped around his shoulders, the team set off on a slow lap of honour,

Philippoussis with an arm around Hewitt's shoulders.

Hewitt later came out and lost the dead fifth rubber in straight sets to

Sebastien Grosjean, but he may have been slowed down by a coating of beer.

"There was beer going everywhere in the dressing room," said Tennis Australia

spokeswoman Lysette Shaw.

"There were no songs being sung -- just general hoopla."

The noisiest, apparently, was Newcombe -- who won four Cups as a player, and

had had a bumpy five years as captain until now.

Pat Rafter, who missed this and the semi-final with injury, "joined" the

celebrations via phone after a call from Mark Woodforde.

In the heat of the moment some members of the team insisted they would shave

their heads, as per a pact made after the quarter final win in the USA.

This, however, was later vetoed as things began to calm down.

"I was out injured during the quarters so I wasn't a party to any such pact,"

said Todd Woodbridge.

"I'm happy to avoid that one."

AAP tm/gd

AAP, 06/12/99 10:34 AEST

NICE, France, Dec 5 AFP - How the Australian team reacted to their 3-2 Davis

Cup final win over France on Sunday:

Mark Philippoussis after his decisive singles win over Cedric Pioline: "This

is definitely the biggest win of my career."

And on how it feels: "Our names going on the trophy. That will be there for

history. No-one can ever change that. No-one can ever rub our names off.

Australia's won it."

Captain John Newcombe on Philippoussis' performance in winning both his

singles: "I would imagine that Mark will look back on this in the future, in

10 years' time, and say 'That's where my career turned the corner and I

started winning Grand Slam tournaments'."

Doubles player Todd Woodbridge on what it means to be a Davis Cup winner: "As

a seven or eight year old I remember watching Davis Cup matches on

television. From that age I felt like I wanted to be a tennis player. I had

two dreams and they were to play at Wimbledon and to win the Davis Cup.

Dreams usually stay dreams - they are not achieved by most people."

Lleyton Hewitt on being a Davis Cup champion as a teenager: "It's a fantastic

honour, I think, for me to be alongside Philippoussis and the Woodies here,

winning my first Davis Cup trophy at the age of 18 in my third Davis Cup tie."

Newcombe on how the Australians dealt with the fiercely-partisan 10,000

crowd: "As each day went on, I think we gradually learned to use that as a

force. Instead of it being a negative force against us, we were trying to

think of it as theatre. We were part of the play. It was fantastic to be out

there in front of that noise."

Mark Woodforde on the players' vow to shave their heads if they won: "No.

That idea got canned."

Newcombe on talking to the injured Pat Rafter, watching on television at home

in Brisbane, after Philippoussis sealed the win: "It must have been tough for

him sitting and watching when, at the beginning of the year, it was his major

dream to be able to win the final this year. But he was very happy for us."

Newcombe on who would have been dropped if Rafter had been fit: "I choose not

to answer. I take the Fifth Amendment."

SYDNEY, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Australia's Davis Cup champions will be honoured

with a series of ticker tape street parades in the country's main cities,

Tennis Australia said on Monday.

Following the trend set by Australia's world champion cricketers, rugby and

netball players, celebrations are being arranged for Melbourne, Sydney,

Adelaide and Brisbane.

Australia's players are sure to receive a heroes' homecoming after their 3-2

victory over France in the weekend's final in Nice.

The warmest welcome is likely to be reserved for Mark Philippoussis, the

big-hitting Melbourne player who put Davis Cup controversy behind him and

produced the best form of his career to win both his singles matches.

The team's victory was shown live on Australian television and dominated

Monday's television and radio broadcasts.

The Sydney-based Daily Telegraph's afternoon edition carried the news of

Australia's win on its front-page under the simple headline ``Our Cup.''

Philippoussis, who was vilified for his refusal to play for Australia last

year because of a dispute with team coach Tony Roche and non-playing captain

John Newcombe, was described as a national hero after beating French number

one Cedric Pioline in Sunday's reverse singles.

``Philippoussis shouldered his responsibilities with revealing maturity to

give Australia one of its greatest Cup moments,'' the paper said.

Prime Minister John Howard even interrupted Monday's parliamentary question

time to congratulate the team on Australia's 27th Davis Cup title.

``It's always been a great sporting talent of Australia, tennis, and the

epitome of tennis achievement is the Davis Cup,'' Howard said.

23:44 12-05-99

By Nichola Cooper

Australia's heroic Davis Cuppers will follow the lead of their fellow world

championship-winning colleagues and bask in ticker tape parades around the

country. With Australia's world championship cricketers, World Cup Rugby

heroes and netball world championships being feted in Australia's main cities

on their return from international triumphs, the Davis Cup team will enjoy a

similar welcome home following their 3-2 win over France in Nice.

Tennis Australia has already begun to plan the parades, which could take in

up to four cities: Melbourne, Sydney, Lleyton Hewitt’s home town of Adelaide

and Brisbane, site of Australia's semi-final win over Russia. Australia's

victory has been the lead story of news bulletins all day, and is certain to

be front-page news in tomorrow's morning newspapers, as it was in afternoon

editions earlier today.

Prime Minister John Howard brought a brief halt to question time in

Parliament to laud the team. "It's always been a great sporting talent of

Australia, tennis, and the epitome of tennis achievement is the Davis Cup,"

he said.

The hero of the victory, Mark Philippoussis, is staying on in Europe for a

few days to enjoy a snowboarding vacation.

By Australian Tennis Magazine Editor Paul Macpherson

Australian captain John Newcombe is likely to come under pressure to relax

his attitude towards team commitment when Australia sets out to defend its

Davis Cup title next year. Throughout the six-year reign of Newcombe and Tony

Roche, Australian players have been required to make themselves available for

all Davis Cup Ties throughout the year to be welcomed into the team. The

policy has grated particularly with new Cup hero Mark Philippoussis, who has

not always declared himself available.

But a need for Newcombe and Roche to more carefully manage their playing

stocks and their determination to continue nurturing brilliant teenager

Lleyton Hewitt could see a shift in policy. If Australia required Pat Rafter

and Philippoussis to play all Ties next season, Hewitt's exciting Davis Cup

career could stall. And it may be unwise to play Rafter in all Ties as he

attempts to avoid overworking his troublesome right shoulder. And

Philippoussis, who may wish to miss an early-round Tie, possibly against

Switzerland in Switzerland in the week after what is expected to be a long

and gruelling Australian Open campaign, could be cut some slack given his

commitment to Australia's victory over France in Nice.

With such a strong "No.3" player in Hewitt, it does not seem necessary to

insist that Rafter and Philippoussis - assuming they remain ahead of the

precocious teenager in the rankings - play together in the early rounds.

Indeed, the move to develop inexperienced Cuppers Hewitt, Sandon Stolle and

Wayne Arthurs this year played a crucial role in Australia's ultimate success.

The Australians saw the value of nurturing great depth within their ranks

this season. The team began the year with its strongest line-up - Rafter and

Philippoussis in singles, the Woodies in doubles - but got progressively

weaker on paper in the quarter-finals and semi-finals. However, the team's

depth saw it win both Ties to advance to the Final, where it was still shy of

being at full strength, with dual US Open champion Rafter missing due to a

shoulder injury.

For the quarter-final Tie against the United States in Boston, Australia lost

Philippoussis to injury, with an untried 18-year-old Lleyton Hewitt brought

in for his debut. And the Woodies, who had been the backbone of the

Australian team for almost a decade, and who had won 10 consecutive Cup

matches as a team, did not take the court together. With Woodbridge citing

poor form and a crisis of confidence for his withdrawal, Sandon Stolle was

brought in to partner Woodforde.

In the semi-final against Russia on grass in Brisbane, Australia headed into

the Tie without its two highest-ranked singles players, and without its

five-time Wimbledon winning combination, the Woodies. But with Hewitt

manfully shouldering the burden of being Australia's stand-in No.1, and

28-year-old rookie left-hander Arthurs serving up a storm, the Australians

ran away with the Tie 4-1.

The other issue confronting Australia next year is which doubles combination

will replace the Woodies should Mark Woodforde act on his strong hint to step

down from national duties. With Todd Woodbridge expected to stay on,

selectors may look to pair him with Arthurs to achieve a preferred right-hand

left-hand combination.

Arthurs, along with regular Aussie partner Andrew Kratzmann, was the

best-performed Australian doubles player on clay this season, and finished

the year ranked in the Top 30. He demonstrated in Brisbane that he has the

nerve to succeed under Davis Cup pressure. And if he's in the starting

four-man team, he could be a handy singles back-up, particularly on grass, if

one of Australia's singles players suffers and injury and needs to be

replaced.

From SportCentral-AAP:

By Trevor Marshallsea

NICE, France, Dec 6 AAP - Mark Philippoussis' father Nick and manager Tom

Ross said the young Melburnian's chequered Davis Cup past should be forgotten

following his starring role in the Davis Cup triumph.

Ross said he hoped the public would wholly embrace Philippoussis, while his

father insisted all the ups and downs of his Davis Cup past were now buried.

"Now it's water under the bridge," said Greek-born Nick after his son had

wrapped up the final against France by beating Cedric Pioline in four sets,

to follow his straight sets win over Sebastien Grosjean on day one.

"He plays for his country, he plays for his team-mates and for every

Australian."

Philippoussis' relations with the Davis Cup establishment hit rock bottom

last year after his falling out with captain John Newcombe and coach Tony

Roche, when Philippoussis said the pair should have given him more support

when his father was diagnosed with cancer.

Philippoussis angered his team-mates by declaring himself unavailable for

last year's first round tie with Zimbabwe in Mildura and then turning up to

watch what turned out to be a debacle for the Aussies.

Ross said the Australian public may not have forgotten the controversies of

Philippoussis' career.

"But I think people appreciate his continued effort and dedication, and the

fact that he's young," he said.

"He's a sympathic figure in many ways, and I think people want to embrace

him, and I think we'll see that in Australia in January.

"I think this victory says a lot about his perseverance, after Mark's

dedication may not have been apparent early on.

"As Mark said himself, there were mistakes, some miscalculations, but at the

end of the day this was a well deserved result all the way round, for John

and Tony for sticking with him, for Mark to admit his mistakes of the past

and make the most of the opportunity here."

Nick Philippoussis said he was immensely proud of his son "not just now but

from the first day that he was born".

He said he had executed better in other matches, such as his straight sets

win over Pete Sampras at the 1996 Australian Open, but that he had "proved

himself a man" with his composure today.

"The way he conducted himself today under the pressure of a Davis Cup final

was fantastic," he said.

"Everyone can play tennis, but to play tennis like that in France, with this

crowd against you is fantastic."

AAP tm/jds

AAP, 06/12/99 15:22 AEST

MELBOURNE, Dec 6 AAP - Melbourne aims to turn on a massive homecoming for the

victorious Davis Cup tennis team just days before Christmas.

Lord Mayor Peter Costigan plans to invite tennis greats from across Australia

to the celebrations which are likely to include a ticker-tape parade.

The biggest welcome will certainly be reserved for local hero Mark

Philippoussis who played the match of his life to defeat Cedric Pioline in

four sets in the fourth match in Nice.

"If you watch those magnificent two matches with Mark Philippoussis he

basically won the Davis Cup for us," Cr Costigan said.

The Victorian, who at one time was at loggerheads with the Australian team

because of his reluctantce to play Davis Cup, turned from villian to hero

overnight.

AAP ppm/gd

AAP, 06/12/99 15:22 AEST

By Wayne Heming

BRISBANE, Dec 6 AAP - Two-time Davis Cup winner Paul McNamee ranked Mark

Philippoussis's four-set victory over Frenchman Cedric Pioline in hostile

territory among Australia's greatest Davis Cup performances.

McNamee, who played singles and doubles in Australia's previous two Davis Cup

finals wins in 1983 and 1986, said Philippoussis showed the world he

possessed the game to intimidate anyone, Pete Sampras included.

Philippoussis secured Australia's 27th Davis Cup win and its first since

1986, capturing both his singles rubbers against Pioline and Sebastien

Grosjean.

"It's tough winning away at any time but to do it in the final, in a noisy

stadium on a surface Australia would never have picked says a lot about Mark

and how far he has come," said McNamee.

"He dug his heels in, looked in the mirror and asked himself the hard

question `can I cut it with the big boys'.

"His win is up there with Pat's (Pat Cash) Davis Cup match against Michael

Pernfors in 1986 as far as I'm concerned.

Cash staged a memorable comeback from two sets to love down against Pernfors

on clay to clinch the match and the final 2-6 4-6 6-3 6-4 6-4.

"Mark has been been through some tough times but he shouldn't wear all the

blame himself," said McNamee.

"This could be the pivotal moment in Mark Philippoussis's career.

"In the third set he looked in the mirror, asked the hard questions and

answered them with four straight winners.

"There's no doubt he has some grand slam titles ahead of him."