Upset sees Sweden in box
seat
February 7, 2004
DOUBLES specialist Jonas Bjorkman and rookie Joachim Johansson put Sweden within
one win of an upset victory over Davis Cup champions Australia winning the
pivotal doubles in a five-set classic at Memorial Drive in Adelaide today.
In a spiky contest, Bjorkman and Johansson beat the Australian combination of
Todd Woodbridge and Wayne Arthurs 7-6 (7/5) 6-4 2-6 6-7 (4/7) 7-5 in more than
four hours.
Their crucial victory gave the Swedish outsiders a 2-1 edge going into Sunday's
two final-day reverse singles.
It was the first Davis Cup win for the new Swedish pair and ended a winning
three-match run by Woodbridge and Arthurs in the team's competition.
The match blew up early in the fourth set when chair umpire Carlos Ramos twice
had to warn the Australian supporters' group, 'The Fanatics', to stop making
personal comments to the Swedes as they were about to serve.
Johansson, who walked to the umpire's chair to complain about the abuse he was
receiving, was particularly rattled by the incident, dropping two serves as the
Australians fought back and led 4-1 before Woodbridge's serve was broken and the
marathon fourth set went into a tiebreaker.
Australia got to two set points on two Johansson netted volleys and levelled the
match at two sets-all when the young Swede again netted a low half-volley to end
the 74-minute set struggle.
Australia looked to have swung the momentum their way in the deciding set with
an early break of Bjorkman's serve to lead 3-1, but Woodbridge was broken for
the fourth time in the match giving the Swedes a sniff of victory.
Pressure was building on the Australians and Woodbridge dropped serve for the
fifth time in the 12th game to hand the Swedes an epic victory.
The victory gives Sweden a great chance to avenge their 5-0 humiliation by
Australia in Malmo last April.
They have yet to win in Australia in three previous ties heading back to 1986.
Australia have been in four of the last five finals and last December they
downed Spain 3-1 in Melbourne for their 28th title, second only to the United
States (31).
Agence France-Presse
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