Australia vs Spain 1-1

Lleyton Hewitt took just five minutes to turn near disaster into triumph and give Australia a 1-0 lead over Spain in the Davis Cup final in Melbourne on Friday. Hewitt was on the brink of defeat heading into a fourth-set tie-break against Juan Carlos Ferrero, but the Aussie No. 2 didn't drop a point in the tie-break and then broke the Spaniard in the first game of the fifth set to set up a 3-6, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(0), 6-2 win.

In the second rubber, Carlos Moya levelled the tie by defeating Wimbledon runner-up Mark Philippoussis 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(4).

Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) d Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) 36 63 36 76(0) 62

* The first rubber lasted 3 hours and 49 minutes. The longest rubber that Australia has played in Davis Cup lasted 3 hours and 58 minutes (Guillermo Canas d Scott Draper in the first round in 2002), and Spain's longest match lasted 4 hours and 7 minutes (Corretja/Costa d C Rochus/Vliegen in the first round this year).
* Hewitt, who made his Davis Cup debut in 1999, now holds a 3-1 record in the fifth set in Davis Cup. He is 2-0 in 2003 after defeating Roger Federer 57 26 76(4) 75 61 in the semifinals.
* By defeating Ferrero, Hewitt improved his Davis Cup record to 26-6 overall, and 9-3 on grass.
* The match against Ferrero was Hewitt's first since the Davis Cup semifinals in September.

What Hewitt Said: "That was the last time I'd played a competitive match and there's a lot of similarities in that match. Big match against one of the best players in the world. Coming back again, I guess not such a big deficit this time. But I guess always knowing the situation, playing Davis Cup and how big a match it was and the outcome, in a lot of ways I guess, those memories and they were obviously good memories for me and they helped out a lot." Hewitt told Craig Gabriel, of daviscup.org.

"I just played faultless tennis and I went for it and I laid it on the line for that breaker. If you get two sets all, you never know what is going to happen in a Davis Cup match."

What Ferrero Said: "He's been able to prepare better than anyone else. (The time off) is a luxury and he did come stronger in the fourth and fifth sets - he played better than me. You have to consider also that I have been sick, I haven't been that well, but I do assert that I gave 100 per cent. I have tried and I think I did well," Ferrero told Craig Gabriel, of daviscup.org.

Carlos Moya (ESP) d Mark Philippoussis (AUS) 64 64 46 76(4)

* Moya improved his career record on grass to 10-13 compared to Philippoussis's 34-16 record.
* This marked Moya's third consecutive win over Philippoussis, and this was their first encounter both in Davis Cup and on grass.
* This is Moya's first appearance in a Davis Cup final, while Philippoussis was part of the Australian team that defeated France in the final in Nice four years ago.

What Moya Said: "I always have a special feeling with Davis Cup… I think not being in the team [in 2000 when Spain won the Cup] is helping me to be more motivated now," the Spaniard told daviscup.org.

"I think that I can play well on grass and it is a great win."

What Philippoussis Said: "I felt like in the third and fourth I was in control and a couple of points away from taking it to a fifth," Philippoussis told daviscup.org.

"It got to the tiebreaker and I had another minibreak and he came with some passing shots. You know, I had a slow start, but what can you do? I gave it my all and, you know, I felt like I was just inches away from going to the fifth and getting on a roll."

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Hewitt Battles to Put Australia 1-0 Up

Australia's Lleyton Hewitt has once again proven that he cannot be counted out unless the chair umpire calls "game, set and match". The 22-year-old came back from two sets to one down against Spain’s Juan Carlos Ferrero to provide Australia with the crucial first point in the final of the 2003 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas.

After three hours and 50 minutes Hewitt collapsed on his back having claimed the opening rubber, the one that many believe to be the crux of the tie, 36 63 36 76(0) 62. He was euphoric in victory, just as he was two months ago when he defeated Switzerland’s Roger Federer in that memorable semifinal after being just two points away from defeat.

"That was the last time I'd played a competitive match and there's a lot of similarities in that match," Hewitt said. "Big match against one of the best players in the world. Coming back again, I guess not such a big deficit this time. But I guess always knowing the situation, playing Davis Cup and how big a match it was and the outcome, in a lot of ways I guess, those memories and they were obviously good memories for me and they helped out a lot."

The Australian was certainly getting frustrated with himself as he failed to convert returns into points but at the same time he was keeping a positive outlook. The very hot conditions in Rod Laver Arena were making life difficult on court and both players were being cooled down at the change of ends with ice packs on their necks.

Hewitt said he was going for his shots and suggested he was pressing more than he normally does as he tried to take the attack up to Ferrero. It forced Hewitt into a few more errors than normal but at the same time he came up with the winners as well. Uncharacteristically, Hewitt finished the match with more backhand winners than forehand winners - a rare occurance for the Aussie number two.

The match turned on the fourth set tiebreak when Hewitt played some phenomenal tennis. He had served for the set at 5-3 only to be broken by Ferrero but once he got into the breaker Hewitt was a master, not dropping a single point.

"I just played faultless tennis and I went for it and I laid it on the line for that breaker," he said. "If you get two sets all, you never know what is going to happen in a Davis Cup match."

Ferrero said he thought Hewitt might have been a bit tired in the fifth set as a result of him not having played a competitive match for two months, but then indicated that the lay off period might have actually been a benefit.

"He's been able to prepare better than anyone else. (The time off) is a luxury and he did come stronger in the fourth and fifth sets - he played better than me," Ferrero said. "You have to consider also that I have been sick, I haven't been that well, but I do assert that I gave 100 per cent. I have tried and I think I did well."

Next up Carlos Moya tries to put Spain level, as he takes on Mark Philippoussis.

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Spain Level at 1-1 Thanks to Moya

Carlos Moya played a superb match to beat Mark Philippoussis 64 64 46 76(4) and level the tie at 1-1 after a thrilling first day's play in this final of the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas.

Moya outserved Philippoussis and gave a controlled display of attacking all-court tennis, showing grass court skills he has rarely demonstrated in the past, to win in 3 hours 15 minutes. After Juan Carlos Ferrero came so close to defeating Lleyton Hewitt in the day’s opening rubber, eventually going down in five tough sets, the visitors could easily have been 2-0 up going into day two.

“I think that I can play well on grass and it is a great win,” said a clearly delighted Moya.

“I would give anything to win this title so I am very motivated,” he added, remarking that comments from John Newcombe in this morning’s Australian papers, suggesting that Moya could not beat Philippoussis, had served as an extra factor in getting him pumped up for the match.

“I always have a special feeling with Davis Cup… I think not being in the team [in 2000 when Spain won the Cup] is helping me to be more motivated now.”

On court, Moya was all calm efficiency: not for him the fist pumping of a Lleyton Hewitt, or even the shouts to the crowd to get more involved that Philippoussis used to fire himself up in the third set. Only at the end of the match, with his jumps of elation at the net, was this ‘motivation’ truly visible.

The Spaniard has always had a big serve but today he showed just how effective it can be on grass, mixing up placement and power and following it to the net on many occasions. When he did get to the net, he showed that he can volley too, although such was the quality of his serve and approach play that in truth he rarely had a difficult volley to play. He equalled Philippoussis with 18 aces, many of them out wide in the deuce court, but served only 10 double faults to the Australian’s 15.

Crucially, Philippoussis’ serve was not functioning as well as it might have, and even when he did find a big delivery, Moya was managing to return them consistently to the feet of the on-rushing Australian. Add Moya’s flashing passes to the equation, and you realise that it was to Philippoussis’ credit that he managed to force a fourth set.

And yet it could all have been so different. Philippoussis found it hard to get out of the blocks, and put in a surprisingly flat performance in the first couple of sets. He later explained that he often finds it difficult to start off well in a Davis Cup tie, as you don’t have the luxury of building your performances through rounds as you do in tournament play.

One break in each of the opening two sets was enough for Moya to take them, and he looked to be heading for a comfortable victory until Philippoussis managed to get himself and the crowd going in the third set. After exchanging breaks mid-way through the set, Philippoussis took advantage of some loose play from Moya at 4-5 to take the match to a fourth set.

At the start of that set, his tail clearly up and the famous serve gaining some extra zip, it looked like Philippoussis had turned the tide. But Moya hung on, and then again escaped from trouble at 4-5 and deuce, eventually forcing a tiebreak in which he came from a mini-break down to clinch the rubber.

“I felt like in the third and fourth I was in control and a couple of points away from taking it to a fifth,” said Philippoussis.

“It got to the tiebreaker and I had another minibreak and he came with some passing shots. You know, I had a slow start, but what can you do? I gave it my all and, you know, I felt like I was just inches away from going to the fifth and getting on a roll.”

The Spanish certainly seemed the more buoyant of the two camps after a day which had begun badly for them, both with Ferrero’s narrow loss and a mix-up at an otherwise spectacular opening ceremony that resulted in a wrong anthem being played as the Spanish national anthem.

Philippoussis in particular cut an extremely dejected figure in the post-match press conference. Captain John Fitzgerald was putting a brave face on things, saying that the Australians had always expected a tough tie like this, but he must pick Philippoussis up for the fourth rubber on Sunday, which is certain to be live.

“I think he’ll be a better player for that experience today, on Sunday,” said Fitzgerald of Philippoussis.

“He’s right, sometimes it takes a few matches on the grass to get going.”

Fitzgerald does not really have many options for his singles line-up, and barring injury will surely stick with Philippoussis and Hewitt for the final day. Meanwhile Spanish Captain Jordi Arrese could decide to put Feliciano Lopez in for a singles rubber on Sunday, although he was as usual giving little away today.

“Between now and Sunday, many things can happen,” was as much as he would say.

The stage is set for the doubles rubber tomorrow, which will see Wayne Arthurs and Todd Woodbridge taking on Alex Corretja and Feliciano Lopez. Only two nations have won a Davis Cup Final after losing the doubles rubber – Australia in 1977 and Russia last year. Australia is hoping that Arthurs and Woodbridge can deliver tomorrow: for the hosts, ending the first day at 1-1 must be bringing back memories of the 2001 Final on this very grass court, when they did the same against France, lost the doubles, and went on to lose the tie.

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Spain level Davis Cup final

Carlos Moya belied his underdog status to defeat Mark Philippoussis and draw Spain level in the Davis Cup final.

Moya's 6-4 6-4 4-6 7-6 victory makes the tie 1-1 after Lleyton Hewitt had earlier given Australia the lead.

Former world number one Hewitt twice came from a set behind for a stunning five-set win over Juan Carlos Ferrero.

Hewitt, who has dropped to 16th in the rankings, said: "It was tough. Ferrero is one of the best in the world. I gave everything I had in the tank."

Moya, a clay-court specialist, last played on grass at Wimbledon in 2000 but he successfully adopted a serve and volley approach to overcome Australia's number one.

"It's a good win for me, I was fighting a lot and was very focused," said Moya.

Hewitt, who had not played a competitive match for two months, struggled with his form in the early part of a topsy-turvy contest.

And his array of unforced errors seemingly paved the way for a comfortable victory for Ferrero, who moved two sets to one clear.

But the Spaniard, who had bounced back from a break down in the fourth set, lost his nerve in the tie-break and Hewitt seized his chance, winning it to love.

From there, Ferrero's challenge faltered as a pumped-up Hewitt played up to the crowd with an inspired selection of ground strokes after four hours of play.

Hewitt added: "I played a flawless tie-break and then my best tennis of the match in the fifth set."

World number three Ferrero, best known as a clay-court player, said he had found it difficult to get used to the specially-laid grass court.

"The ball was bouncing in a funny way. There were holes or uneven levels on the surface and it was rather dry," he said.

"You can't come up with as many winners because on the hard ground the ball bounces faster and so on and it's a different game."

Ferrero initially looked the more at ease on the grass surface laid for the final in Melbourne as he won the first set 6-3 in 39 minutes.

Although Hewitt had yet to find his range, he managed to level the scores in the second set, having broken Ferrero's serve in the eighth game.

But a brief lapse of concentration allowed Ferrero to pull clear once more, breaking Hewitt to go 4-2 clear and shortly afterwards wrap up the set.

As Hewitt lifted the tempo of his game, his Spanish opponent struggled to keep in the contest, just managing to take the fourth set to a tie-break.

But after losing his opening two serves, he was never in contention as the remainder of the fourth and subsequently fifth sets became increasingly one-sided.

The build-up to the opening rubber was marred when the Republican anthem "Himno de Riego" was played rather than the Spanish national anthem.

Initially Spanish secretary of sport Juan Antonio-Angulo refused to let the Spanish players start the final until an apology was made, which was eventually given by Australian captain John Fitzgerald.

On Saturday, Todd Woodbridge and Wayne Arthurs will team up for the doubles against Feliciano Lopez and Alex Corretja.

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Spain demands Davis Cup apology

Spain's sports minister has expressed his outrage after the wrong Spanish national anthem was played before the start of the Davis Cup tennis final.

Juan Antonio Gomez-Angulo, who was in the stands, has urged the Spanish ambassador to seek an explanation from the Australian government.

Gomez-Angulo said: "It was an offence to the Spanish nation."

He had waved furiously and yelled as a pre-civil war republican anthem was played for the Spanish team.

Gomez-Angulo said he was not satisfied with a formal apology issued by hosts Tennis Australia over the blunder.

"We cannot trivialise the national anthem of any nation and of course I will take my complaint further. The protest will go further than it did at the tennis arena," he said.

"Apologies have been accepted in the first instance so as not to affect the process of the competition.

"I reiterate that we are demanding a formal apology through the Spanish embassy in Australia and an explanation from the Australian government, so that at a sports level the root of the problem can be corrected for this offence done to the Spanish nation."

There was booing amongst Spanish supporters in the crowd as soon as the anti-Franco anthem began.

'Regrettable'

Australian captain John Fitzgerald apologised to the crowd through a courtside microphone after learning of the mistake.

The correct Spanish anthem was then played as Ferrero and Hewitt walked out on court for the opening rubber.

Tennis Australia immediately issued an apology, which read: "It is unfortunate the outstanding opening ceremony was marred by this regrettable occurrence.

"As a mark of respect, Tennis Australia will be playing the Spanish and Australian anthems before play tomorrow (Saturday) and again on Sunday."

Australia, Spain split opening matches

By DENNIS PASSA, Associated Press Writer
November 28, 2003

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -- Australia and Spain split the opening singles matches Friday in the Davis Cup final after an embarrassing national anthem mixup.

Australia's Lleyton Hewitt opened the best-of-five competition with a 3-6, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (0), 6-2 victory over Juan Carlos Ferrero, and Spain's Carlos Moya beat Mark Philippoussis 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (4) in the second match.

The event got off to a bad start when a long-outdated Spanish national anthem was played during the opening ceremony.

Spain's Sports Minister Juan Antonio Gomez-Angulo waved furiously and yelled from the stands when the anthem of Spain's first republic, the Himno de Riego, was played. The correct anthem was then played, and will be repeated Saturday and Sunday.

``I was quite surprised,'' Ferrero said. ``I had never heard that (anthem) before. It was a big mistake, but I had to keep my mind focussed on the match ahead.''

Hewitt won in his first match in more than two months.

``All my thoughts were to try to get Australia off to a great start,'' the Australian said. ``I'm glad I did. ... I was going for it a lot today, probably more than I normally do. I might have had a lot more errors, but I had a lot more winners, too.''

On Saturday, Australia's Todd Woodbridge and Wayne Arthurs will face Feliciano Lopez and Alex Corretja in doubles. In the concluding reverse singles Sunday, Philippoussis will play Ferrero, and Hewitt will face Moya.

Hewitt shut out Ferrero in the fourth-set tiebreaker, broke serve in the first game of the fifth set and dominated the rest of the way before a sellout crowd of about 14,000 at Rod Laver Arena.

``I played an awesome tiebreak,'' Hewitt said. ``When you go into a tiebreak down two sets to one, you want to get off to a good start. I just played faultless tennis and laid it all on the line.''

Moya, a clay court specialist, last played on grass at Wimbledon in 2000 when he lost to champion Goran Ivanisevic. He has pulled out of Wimbledon the last two years because of injuries.

``It's a good win for me, I was fighting a lot and was very focussed,'' Moya said.

When asked about playing on grass, he replied: ``Maybe I might start to like it now.''

Tennis Australia officials apologized courtside after they were alerted to the anthem error, and sent a letter of apology to the president of the Spanish tennis federation, Augustin Pujol Niubo.

``It is unfortunate the outstanding opening ceremony was marred by this regrettable occurrence and, as a mark of respect, Tennis Australia will be playing the Spanish and Australian anthems before play tomorrow and again on Sunday,'' Tennis Australia president Geoff Pollard said in the letter.

Pollard said the error occurred because ``a CD of world national anthems provided to the performer by Tennis Australia contained what we have subsequently been advised is not the correct national anthem.''

Australia has won the Davis Cup 27 times, while Spain beat Australia in 2000 for its lone title. The United States holds the record with 31 championships.

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Moya earns Spain split with Australia

November 28, 2003

MELBOURNE, Australia (Ticker) - Carlos Moya posted a 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7-4) victory over Mark Philippoussis to get Spain even after the first day of the Davis Cup final.

Earlier Friday, Lleyton Hewitt rallied for a 3-6, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7-0), 6-2 triumph over Juan Carlos Ferrero to give Australia a 1-0 lead.

Playing on grass for the first time in 18 months, Moya took the first two sets and held on against Philippoussis, who dropped his forth straight grasscourt match. Moya, who won twice against Argentina in the semifinals, improved to 3-4 in his career against Philippoussis.

Hewitt and Ferrero squared off in the opener in a rematch of a U.S. Open quarterfinal won by the Spaniard. There was heavy speculation that Spain would replace an ailing Ferrero with unheralded Feliciano Lopez.

Ferrero, bothered by sinus infection, took two of the first three sets and battled back from 3-5 in the fourth to force a tiebreaker. Hewitt displayed his top form in the tiebreaker to even the match.

"I just played faultless tennis and I went for it and I laid it on the line for that breaker," said Hewitt, who played his first competitive match in two months. "If you get two sets all, you never know what is going to happen in a Davis Cup match."

Hewitt notched his second straight five-set Davis Cup victory after rallying from two sets down for a memorable triumph over Roger Federer in the semifinal clincher against Switzerland. He has won six straight Davis Cup singles matches.

Ferrero fell to 11-4 lifetime in Davis Cup play.

"He's been able to prepare better than anyone else." Ferrero said. "You have to consider also that I have been sick, I haven't been that well, but I do assert that I gave 100 percent. I have tried and I think I did well."

Saturday's doubles match features Wayne Arthurs and Todd Woodbridge of Australia facing Lopez and Alex Corretja. Woodbridge is set to break Adrian Quist's national record of appearing in 28 ties.

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Layoff helped Hewitt says Ferrero

Fri 28 November, 2003 07:15

By Greg Stutchbury

MELBOURNE, Nov 28 (Reuters) - World number three Juan Carlos Ferrero said Lleyton Hewitt's 10-week layoff before the Davis Cup final had helped the Australian grind out a five-set victory in their opening singles rubber on Friday.

Hewitt, who had not played since beating Switzerland's Roger Federer in the semi-finals in September, had surgery to correct a foot injury and chose not to rest until the final.

A refreshed, but initially rusty, Hewitt came from a set down twice to win the match 3-6 6-3 3-6 7-6 6-2 and give Australia a 1-0 lead.

"He has been able to prepare better than anyone else," said Ferrero said through an interpreter. "He has had two and a half months to prepare which is a luxury and he did (be)come stronger in the fourth and fifth sets.

"I think the match has been pretty even up until the fourth set, but he played rather well and right up until the tiebreak where the odds turned."

After breaking Hewitt when he was serving for the fourth set, Ferrero was then blown away in the tiebreak with the former world number one winning it 7-0.

"It was a long match and it was difficult at any point to decide who was going to win. It was fairly even match (and) I think there was very little difference between us except for the fifth set," the Spaniard said.

"I guess he played better than me, but you have to consider that I have been sick (with sinusitis). I haven't been that well."

The opening day's play was marred when the incorrect anthem was played as the Spanish flag was raised and, while the Spanish sports minister Juan Gomez-Angulo was incensed, Ferrero said it had not affected him greatly.

"Mr Gomez-Angulo was very upset," he said. "He was more upset than anyone else and I can understand that."

"I was upset but not to that extent (because) I was trying to focus on playing the game. I do consider that it was serious but I don't want to create a big problem out of it."

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Slip in tiebreak was turning point, says Hewitt

Fri 28 November, 2003 07:32

By Greg Stutchbury

MELBOURNE, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Australia's Lleyton Hewitt said his recovery from a slip late in the fourth set was the turning point in his Davis Cup final singles match against Spain's Juan Carlos Ferrero on Friday.

Hewitt slipped over while leading 1-0 in the tiebreak but regained his feet and won the point before running out to a 7-0 victory, squaring the match at two sets all.

"That was a huge point," Hewitt told a news conference after his 3-6 6-3 3-6 7-6 6-2 win on a specially laid grass court at the Rod Laver Arena that gave Australia a 1-0 lead in the tie.

"I was just a couple of metres back from the baseline (and) I just had to hang in there and scrap a few balls. I just had to get it back deep and then I think that he was disappointed that the point was still going (and) he hardly moved.

"I thought he could have got that ball up the line and I ended up hitting a forehand winner and hit a great return on the next point to go 3-0 up in the tiebreak."

Hewitt said the memory of his last competitive match, a 5-7 2-6 7-6 7-5 6-1 comeback victory over Swiss Roger Federer in the Davis Cup semi-final in September, had helped him rally mentally during the fourth set.

"It wasn't that as big a deficit as the last time, but knowing the situation of the Davis Cup and how big a match it was, in a lot of ways I guess those memories were obviously good memories for me that helped a lot," he said.

The 22-year-old former world number one said he had been pleased with his game after the two-month break, particularly with the number of winners he had hit.

"I was going for it a lot, probably more than I normally do and I just tried to take it to him," he said. "I may have had a lot more unforced errors but I had a lot more winners than I normally had, so that's pretty pleasing as a whole."

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Deflated Philippoussis rues key net cord

Fri 28 November, 2003 10:04

By Greg Stutchbury

MELBOURNE, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Australian Mark Philippoussis said he had been just "inches away" from forcing his Davis Cup final singles match against Spain's Carlos Moya into a deciding fifth set on Friday.

Philippoussis lost the match in a tiebreak in the fourth set 6-4 6-4 4-6 7-6, levelling the tie at 1-1 after former world number one Lleyton Hewitt ground out a tough five-set victory over Juan Carlos Ferrero earlier in the day.

"I felt that I was just inches away from getting on a roll and taking it into the fifth," a downcast Philippoussis said at a news conference. "I made him look aggressive, but I felt like in the third and fourth (sets) that I was in control.

Philippoussis opened up a 2-0 lead in the tiebreak before an attempted forehand pass slammed into the top of the net cord, trickled tantalisingly close but failed to drop on to Moya's side of the net.

Moya then produced an astonishing running passing forehand at full stretch as Philippoussis attacked at the net, which gave the Spaniard a 5-3 lead that he never relinquished.

Philippoussis, a Wimbledon finalist this year, said he had found it hard to get into the game.

"I had a slow start," he said. "I was a long way away from my form at Wimbledon. At a tournament you work your way into the second week and every match gets a little better.

"I have no doubt that when it comes Sunday, I am going to be a different player out there.

"I have a match under my belt, obviously it's not the match I wanted but grass is one of those surfaces where you need to play some matches.

"I didn't play a good one today, but there is no doubt I'll be a different player on Sunday."

Philippoussis will play Ferrero in Sunday's reverse singles and Australia captain John Fitzgerald thought the 27-year-old would pull out a better performance then.

"He wasn't at his best in the first two sets and he knows that," said Fitzgerald. "But it sometimes takes a few matches on the grass to get going.

"He may well have been favourite in the fifth and I think he will play better on Sunday. I think he'll pick up from where he left off in the last two sets."

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Moya happy to prove he can win on grass too

Fri 28 November, 2003 10:59

By Greg Stutchbury

MELBOURNE, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Spaniard Carlos Moya's astonishing four-set victory over Australia's Mark Philippoussis in the Davis Cup final on Friday will probably not change his mind about playing on grass more often.

Despite being the world number seven, Moya was not expected to win the match against Philippoussis, a finalist on Wimbledon grass this year who was ranked just two places below him.

The 27-year-old Moya had only ever won nine matches on grass since turning professional in 1995 and had not played on the surface since Halle in June 2002.

"I think I can play well on grass and this was a great win," Moya said after the 6-4 6-4 4-6 7-6 win that levelled the tie at 1-1. "But first I have to listen to my body. When I was younger I didn't listen to my body, now I have to listen more.

"I am not 20 years old any more and sometimes you need a break because the year is very tough on tour and I don't know when I am going to get the break. Probably during the grasscourt season."

Moya said that he had not been distracted by comments from Australian former player John Newcombe, who had said he expected Philippoussis to win.

"Things like that are motivating," added Moya. "It is interesting when you hear comments like that coming form someone like John Newcombe who has been a top player.

"Comments like that can be interpreted as put downs but hearing comments from people in the tennis world is motivating. But I have stayed focused. I knew that I was going to play well, win or lose, and I did play well."

Another motivating factor in ensuring the Spanish team finished the day at 1-1 -- Australia's Lleyton Hewitt beat Juan Carlos Ferrero in the opening rubber -- was missing Spain's Davis Cup triumph over Australia in 2000 through injury.

"I always have a special feeling with Davis Cup and missing that one that we played at home and won, it was tough. But it also gave me even more motivation to keep improving and training."

"The feeling I have now towards Davis Cup are the ones that keep you working hard to be a top player so I really want it."

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Spanish fury over national anthem gaffe

Fri 28 November, 2003 10:47

By Greg Stutchbury

MELBOURNE, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Spain's sports minister ordered the country's Davis Cup team not to start their final against Australia on Friday until an apology had been issued after the wrong anthem was played at the opening ceremony.

Juan Antonio Gomez Angulo, who was watching from the stands, left the stadium in protest when an old republican anthem was played by a lone trumpeter.

He returned after an Australian apology and the tennis began.

"This reparation was done but the Spanish delegation is not totally satisfied and we have indicated to the International Tennis Federation (ITF) that prior to the commencement of the doubles match (on Saturday) the correct anthem be played," he told a news conference.

"Furthermore, I will be asking the Spanish ambassador to approach the Australian government to inquire as to how this intolerable offence could happen at the opening ceremony of an event as important as the Davis Cup.

"We are demanding a formal apology through the Spanish embassy in Australia and an explanation by the Australian government so that at a sports level the root of the problem can be corrected for this offence to the Spanish nation."

The anthem played was penned in the early 19th century by liberals opposed to the absolutist monarchy of the time.

It was used by republicans during various periods of Spanish history and became the official anthem in 1822 for a short time.

Later it became the anthem of the Second Republic, the regime prior to the Spanish Civil War of the 1930s, but was replaced by the victorious General Franco.

On the court, the day ended with the tie level at 1-1 but Angulo said they players had been upset over the anthem blunder.

"Naturally this upset them (and) ... the players were resolved not to continue playing if the reparation was not done.

"Apologies have been accepted in the first instance so as not to affect the process of the competition."

Tennis Australia, organising the final on behalf of the ITF, said they had apologised for the error and would play the correct anthem on Saturday when the Spanish flag was raised.

"It is unfortunate the outstanding opening ceremony was marred by this regrettable occurrence and, as a mark of respect, Tennis Australia will be playing the Spanish and Australian anthems before play tomorrow and again on Sunday," Tennis Australian president Geoff Pollard said in the statement.

The error had occurred because a CD of national anthems supplied to the performer was incorrect.

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Davis Cup level after dramatic opening day

Fri 28 November, 2003 11:03

By Julian Linden

MELBOURNE, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Australia and Spain were locked at 1-1 after a dramatic first day of singles in the Davis Cup final on Friday.

Lleyton Hewitt produced a stirring comeback to beat French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero 3-6 6-3 3-6 7-6 6-2 and give Australia a 1-0 lead.

But Spain levelled the tie when Carlos Moya upset Wimbledon runner-up Mark Philippoussis 6-4 6-4 4-6 7-6 in the second rubber.

"The Australians are favourites, but we are happy with that," Spanish captain Jordi Arrese said. "Our players are highly motivated to take the salad bowl (Davis Cup trophy) home."

There was high drama even before the opening match when Spain's sports minister ordered the team not to start until an apology had been issued after officials played a pre-civil war republican anthem at the opening ceremony.

Juan Antonio Gomez-Angulo, who was watching from the stands, left the Rod Laver Arena in protest over the incident. He returned after an Australian apology and the tennis began.

"This reparation was done but the Spanish delegation is not quite satisfied and we have indicated to the International Tennis Federation, that prior to the commencement of the doubles match, the correct anthem be played," he later told a news conference.

FIGHTING SPIRIT

Hewitt, the former world number one, drew on all his fighting spirit to twice claw his way back from a set down in searing 30 degree Celsius heat.

Ferrero looked to have put the brakes on Hewitt's comeback when he recovered from a service break down to force the fourth set into a tiebreak, but the Australian raised his game one more time to runaway with the match.

"It was hard work out there in tough conditions," Hewitt said. "My thoughts and training for the last eight weeks have all been on this match and trying to get Australia off to a great start."

Australia were confident of snatching a 2-0 lead when Philippoussis lined up against Moya, a claycourt specialist who had only ever won nine matches on grass since turning professional in 1995 and had not played on the surface since June 2002.

Moya was given little hope of nullifying Philippoussis' booming serve and natural volley game, but he quickly turned the tables on his more fancied opponent who made series of early errors.

"I think the key was that I was more relaxed," Moya said. "I responded well to his service and maybe partly as a result of he made more more errors."

Philippoussis briefly threatened to follow Hewitt's lead with a comeback of his own when he won the third set but he ran out of puff and lost the fourth in a tiebreak.

"I felt that I was just inches away from getting on a roll and taking it into the fifth," Philippoussis said. "I have no doubt that when it comes Sunday, I am going to be a different player out there."

"If he had won the fourth set anything could have happened," Moya said. "He was not playing very well at the start but he got better."

Hewitt's fighting qualities are already legendary and despite his slide down the world rankings he remains one of the most difficult opponents around.

He rallied from two sets down to beat Wimbledon champion Roger Federer in the Davis Cup semi-final with Switzerland in September and his performance against Ferrero was just as impressive.

EARLY EDGE

Ferrero, ranked three in the world, had the edge over Hewitt in the early stages of the match, clinically finishing off his break chances to open up a two sets to one lead.

But Hewitt, playing his first match since September, slowly wore him down, using his superior grass court skills to find a way through Ferrero's steady baseline game.

"It was a long match and it was difficult at any point to decide who was going to win," Ferrero said.

"It was fairly even match (and) I think there was very little difference between us except for the fifth set.

"I guess he played better than me, but you have to consider that I have been sick (with sinusitis). I haven't been that well."

Hewitt failed to serve out the fourth set after leading 5-4, but regained his composure to win the ensuing tiebreak then broke Ferrero's serve at the start of the fifth as he moved in for the kill.

The doubles will be played on Saturday with the concluding reverse singles on Sunday.