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Scud will be OK on day
Paul Malone
05feb04

AUSTRALIAN Davis Cup coach Wally Masur last night dismissed Mark Philippoussis's sound defeat by Lleyton Hewitt in a practice duel as a cause for concern in the countdown to tomorrow's opening singles matches against Sweden in Adelaide.

Hewitt comfortably had the better of Philippoussis, trounced by Moroccan Hicham Arazi in the fourth round of the Australian Open last week, when they took to Memorial Drive's centre court yesterday for two sets of spirited practice.
Philippoussis, the Australian No. 1 under pressure from twin blasts of criticism by former coach Pat Cash last week, will be increasingly seen by the Swedes as the player they are most likely to upset for a singles win in the first-round tie.

Swedish teenager Robin Soderling seems to have played his way into a probable Davis Cup debut against Philippoussis when the Swedes and Australians nominate their singles players today.

"I think it was only a service break in each set, but Mark works more towards what he's going to do on Friday, whereas Lleyton plays like he plays every day," Masur said.

"It's great we have two players who push each other and all our players know not to take anything for granted against the Swedes."

John Newcombe, who was captain of the 1999 Australian team anchored by Philippoussis to a final win, said he had phoned the Victorian last week to cheer him up.

Philippoussis is coming out of one of the most testing times of his eventful career, with former coach Cash accusing the Scud of making violent threats to him over comments perceived as being critical of his friendship with singer Delta Goodrem.

"I told him how proud he should be about what he has done the past few months, getting to the final of Wimbledon and the final of the Davis Cup," Newcombe said.

"We had a 90-second conversation and we had some nice words. I think Mark would have put it all behind him at this stage."

Sweden captain Mats Wilander is expected to choose Soderling, ranked No. 54, against Philippoussis tomorrow and invite Jonas Bjorkman to win his first match in a six career meetings with Hewitt. The draw determines the order of play.

Newcombe said the hot weather forecast for Adelaide on all three days meant fatigue could be a factor after the Australians had a break of less than three months since the 2003 final.

Tennis Australia president Geoff Pollard said yesterday TA would press on with its lobbying for a proposal that the cup finalists be given a first-round bye in the following year's competition.

A Davis Cup rule change several years ago provided for the top-ranked singles player from each team to play a first-day match against the opposition's second-ranked representative.

Wilander can therefore hand-pick the Swedish player he thinks has most chance of beating Philippoussis or Hewitt tomorrow by either selecting Bjorkman, his top-ranked player, first-up, or holding him in reserve for doubles and reverse-singles duty on the last two days.

Soderling, 19, won more games than Bjorkman's probable doubles partner Joachim Johansson, 21, in practice and Bjorkman said he had the mental strength to perform well at Davis Cup level.

Hewitt has a 5-0 career record over Bjorkman, 31, and a 6-1 edge over Thomas Enqvist, 29.

Hewitt set to make cup history
By Linda Pearce
Adelaide
February 5, 2004

John Newcombe believes that if Lleyton Hewitt adds some muscle to his game he can win another three to five grand slam titles.

Having been relieved last year of two long-service records by Todd Woodbridge, Adrian Quist is one Lleyton Hewitt victory away from having his all-time singles aggregate equalled by a player still three weeks from his 23rd birthday. The Quist era was 70 years ago; Hewitt's has already produced two Davis Cups, and the quest for a third starts against Sweden tomorrow.

Should Hewitt, as expected, defeat debutant Robin Soderling tomorrow on his home hardcourt at Memorial Drive, it would be his 24th win in 30 singles matches and 17 ties. Quist played in one cup-winning team in 34 matches and 28 ties. As former champion John Newcombe said yesterday: "(Hewitt's) going to go down probably as our greatest Davis Cup player."

The 22-year-old, according to his old mentor, is still capable of winning another three to five grand slam titles to add to his 2001 United States Open and 2002 Wimbledon. New world No. 1 and Australian

Open champion Roger Federer, Newcombe believes, has "raised the bar to a new level", but that simply means that Hewitt must jump higher and run faster than before.

Newcombe said he witnessed vital signs in Hewitt's round-of-16 loss to the sublime Swiss at Melbourne

Park. What he had seen around the time of Hewitt's crushing first-round Wimbledon loss to Ivo Karlovic last year suggested that the deposed No. 1 - who bottomed out at 18th from a combination of inactivity and modest results - was playing on little more than will.

"I think he was really smart to take that rest last year. The engine had burnt out, mentally and

physically, and he's renewed," Newcombe said. "Australia's been in the Davis Cup final four times in five years, he won two grand slams in that period and he was No. 1 player in the world for 18 to 20 months, and he's not a big strong bloke, you know.

"Just the physical and mental pressure - you could see him winding down, he had less and less on his game, and he was just hanging in there with his spirit and now you see he's like a new person out there. He's back again.

"Lleyton's a late physical maturer and he's getting stronger as time goes by. I think you could see in that match against Federer. For a set-and-a-half, he was hitting the ball a heck of a lot harder than he's been hitting it last year. He knows he's got to move up a notch or two in the weight of shot and the power of shot, and I don't see why he won't. I don't see why he can't win another three to five (majors) over the next five years."

Yet although the emergence of Federer, Andy Roddick, Juan Carlos Ferrero and Marat Safin make that a difficult task, Hewitt's cup value remains undisputed. Australia has missed one final since his 1999 debut and that, not coincidentally, was 2002, when Hewitt was sidelined with chickenpox for the first-round drubbing in Argentina.

Hewitt no longer contests dead singles rubbers, and has not done so for several years, but the only non-finals loss on his exceptional singles record came on grass against German Rainer Schuettler here

in April, 2000. A win tomorrow would tie Quist, and with a live fifth match against 1999 Australian Open finalist Thomas Enqvist would come the chance to surpass an enduring benchmark.

"Obviously, any record like that's incredible, and to have the opportunity to at least tie it in Adelaide would be an awesome place to do it, but then again, I've got to go out there and try to get

the job done on Friday," Hewitt said. "Hopefully, it doesn't come down to trying to break the record outright late Sunday afternoon, but we'll have to wait and see."

The Age has learnt that at this morning's official draw, Sweden will name 54th-ranked Soderling and former world No. 4 Enqvist to play Hewitt and Mark Philippoussis respectively in tomorrow's opening

singles rubbers, while Jonas Bjorkman will be saved for Saturday's doubles, where he will partner Joachim Johansson against Todd Woodbridge, and Wayne Arthurs.

Temperatures of between 35 and 40 degrees are expected over the next four days, and Hewitt is sure to provide a similarly hot reception for Soderling in his first Davis Cup match. The 19-year-old Swede

upset 2003 Australian Open finalist Schuettler in the opening round at Melbourne Park, before losing to Frenchman Nicolas Escude.

Enqvist, 29, is perhaps the most surprising selection, despite his experience and past successes on Rebound Ace, for his ranking has tumbled to 78th amid injuries and indifferent results.

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Swedes young and old likely to be fodder for Hewitt in quest for Quist record
By Linda Pearce
February 5, 2004

Lleyton Hewitt is just a victory away from becoming Australia's "greatest Davis Cup player", according to John Newcombe.

Still three weeks shy of his 23rd birthday, Hewitt is a match short of equalling Adrian Quist's all-time mark of 24 singles wins.

Quist, whose heyday was 70 years ago, has already lost several long-service records - to Todd Woodbridge last year. Hewitt's era is still in full swing and has already produced two Davis Cups, with the quest for a third starting against Sweden tomorrow.

Should Hewitt defeat his opponent on his home hardcourt at Memorial Drive tomorrow, it would be his 24th win in 30 singles matches over 17 ties. Quist won one cup. He played 34 singles matches over 28 ties for 24 wins.

As former champion John Newcombe said yesterday: "He's [Hewitt] going to go down probably as our greatest Davis Cup player."

The South Australian is also, according to his mentor, still capable of winning another three to five grand slam titles to add to his 2001 US Open and his 2002 Wimbledon successes.

World No.1 and Australian Open champion Roger Federer has, Newcombe believes, "raised the bar to a new level" but that simply means that Hewitt must jump higher and run faster.

Hewitt reduced his schedule in 2003, a year in which his ranking slipped to No.18 and in which he was defeated in the first round at Wimbledon. But Newcombe said the lighter workload was the right move.

"I think he was really smart to take that rest last year, the engine had burnt out, mentally and physically, and he's renewed," Newcombe said. "Australia's been in the Davis Cup final four times in five years, he won two grand slams in that period and he was No.1 player in the world for 18-20 months, and he's not a big strong bloke, you know.

"Just the physical and mental pressure - you could see him winding down, he had less and less on his game, and he was just hanging in there with his spirit and now you see he's like a new person out there, he's back again.

"Lleyton's a late physical maturer and he's getting stronger as time goes by. I think you could see in that match against Federer for a set-and-a-half he was hitting the ball a heck of a lot harder than he'd been hitting it last year. He knows he's got to move up a notch or two in the weight of shot and the power of shot, and I don't see why he won't. I don't see why he can't win another three to five [majors] over the next five years."

Yet although the collective emergence of Federer, Andy Roddick, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Marat Safin and others make that a monstrously difficult task, Hewitt's Davis Cup value remains undisputed. Australia have missed just one final since his 1999 debut and that, not coincidentally, was 2002, when Hewitt was sidelined with chickenpox for the first-round drubbing in Argentina.

Hewitt no longer contests dead singles rubbers, and has not done so for several years, but the only non-finals loss on his exceptional singles record came on grass against German Rainer Schuettler in April 2000.

A win tomorrow would tie Quist, and with a live fifth match would come the chance to surpass an enduring benchmark.

"Obviously, any record like that's incredible, and to have the opportunity to at least tie it in Adelaide would be an awesome place to do it but, then again, I've got to go out there and try and get the job done on Friday," Hewitt said. "Hopefully, it doesn't come down to trying to break the record outright late Sunday afternoon, but we'll have to wait and see."

At this morning's official draw, Sweden will name their team to play Hewitt and Mark Philippoussis in the two singles rubbers, while Jonas Bjorkman is certain to be half the doubles combination to play his regular tour partner Todd Woodbridge and Wayne Arthurs in the doubles.

Temperatures of 35 to 40 degrees are expected over the next four days, which is likely to better suit the Australians, who also nominated the surface, Rebound Ace.

"I think they have got a nice blend of youth and experience," said Australian coach Wally Masur, citing experienced pair Jonas Bjorkman and Thomas Enqvist, and rookies Robin Soderling and Joachim Johansson.

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Hewitt is Australia's Davis Cup ace

Lleyton Hewitt is poised to equal or perhaps become Australia's all-time Davis Cup singles winner in the World Group tie against Sweden starting on Friday.

The 22-year-old Hewitt needs one singles win to tie and two to break Adrian Quist's Australian Davis Cup record of 24 singles wins in his home city.

Hewitt is likely to get his chance in Friday's opening singles but if the tie is dead on Sunday he may not play in the return singles, having missed three of Australia's four dead day-three rubbers played last year.

"He's going to go down as our greatest Davis Cup player," former Australian captain John Newcombe said.

Newcombe, who played eight years for Australia for a 16-7 singles record, said Hewitt was recharged after drastically reducing his playing schedule to just 48 matches last year.

"I think he was really smart to take that rest last year, the engine had burnt out, mentally and physically, and he's renewed, he's recharged the batteries," he said.

"You've got to look at what happened to this kid who started in 1999 in the five years since then Australia has been in the Davis Cup final four times, he won two Grand Slams in that period, and he was the number one player in the world for 18-20 months, and he's not a big strong bloke.

"The physical and mental pressure, you could see him winding down, he had less and less on his game and he was just hanging in there with his spirit, and now you see him there, he's like a new person."

Newcombe, who brought Hewitt into the Davis Cup squad as a 16-year-old in 1997, believes the former world number one is a late maturer and could win three or five more Grand Slams to add to his Wimbledon and US Open titles.

"I always thought Lleyton he could get five or seven Grand Slams, if he plays for another five years, I can't see why he can't win another three to five over the next five years," he said.

"He's getting stronger. He's a late physical maturer, and he's getting stronger ... and he's knows he's get to move up a notch or two in the weight of the shot and the power of the shot."

The most singles wins in Davis Cup are by Italian Nicola Pietrangeli with 78 from 110 matches in 66 ties.

But Hewitt's 23 wins and five losses from 16 ties has him well positioned to forge one of the greatest Davis Cup careers.

Hewitt's win-loss ratio entering his sixth Davis Cup year is superior to Grand Slam champions including Roger Federer (15-6), Rod Laver (16-4), Mats Wilander (36-16), Stefan Edberg (35-15), Newcombe (16-7) and Pat Cash (23-7).

"I don't think about it but any record like that is pretty incredible and to have the chance to at least tie it in Adelaide would be an awesome place to do it," Hewitt said.

"I have to get the job done on Friday and hopefully it doesn't come down to whether I break the record on Sunday afternoon (in a live match).

"It's a court where I've practised a lot but this is one of the toughest first-round encounters you can have. We'll have to be very wary especially on the first couple of days."

AFP

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Newk's message of support
By Linda Pearce
Adelaide
February 5, 2004

At the height of last week's Mark Philippoussis frenzy at Melbourne Park, amid the questions and recriminations that followed his fourth-round loss to Hicham Arazi, the beleaguered world No. 9 received a telephone call from his old Davis Cup captain, John Newcombe.

The fences between Philippoussis and Newcombe were mended some time ago, after notable periods of difficulty and estrangement, including the "Great Mildura Debacle" of 1998, to the point where Newcombe's locker-room advice is credited with helping the Australian complete his momentous victory over Andre Agassi in last year's Wimbledon semi-final.

Last week, when Newcombe rang with a message of support, the conversation lasted about 90 seconds. And, it seems that, as ever, the ebullient former great did most of the talking.

"I told him how proud he should be of himself, for what he'd done in the last 12 months," Newcombe said yesterday. "I was calling the match when he did his knee at the (2002 US) Open, and it was pretty emotional because you thought, 'There's a career gone', and he's writhing on the ground there. So, I told him he should be very proud of what he'd done: getting back into the top 10, getting to the final of Wimbledon, winning the Davis Cup, it was an amazing effort. We just had some nice words."

Of the words spoken by Pat Cash and others in recent times, Newcombe was far less complimentary, although he does not believe there will be any lingering effect on Philippoussis, or his performance, when the Davis Cup first round starts against Sweden tomorrow.

"I think Mark would have put all that behind him at this stage. Why should Mark comment on that any more? He's here to play a Davis Cup match," said Newcombe, at Memorial Drive for the announcement of the two-year extension of Tennis Australia's lucrative deal with national team sponsor Optus.

"Things get blown up and they make good stories for the media; meanwhile, you plough ahead. Really, it's a minor issue."

Hewitt pleads for cup break
Leo Schlink
03feb04

LLEYTON Hewitt has sounded the first warning over Australia's Davis Cup defence.

Hewitt said the break between last year's final triumph over Spain and this week's clash with Sweden was too short.

Hewitt, Mark Philippoussis, Wayne Arthurs and Todd Woodbridge will do battle with Mats Wilander's underdog Swedes on Rebound Ace in Adelaide from Friday.

But Hewitt yesterday renewed his plea for better scheduling.

He said the two finalists -- in this case Australia and Spain -- should be given a first-round bye in the following year's competition.

"Australians understand tennis and Davis Cup as much as anyone, and most can't understand why we won the trophy for our country in December and have to go and defend it straight away," Hewitt said.

"It doesn't make any sense. The two finalists should receive a first-round bye, or maybe they should be looking at making the cup a two-year event, which would make it even more special."

Hewitt, beaten in the fourth round of the Open by eventual champion Roger Federer, said Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero's groin, back and leg problems at Melbourne Park were a result of a gruelling schedule.

"Juan Carlos had a really demanding end to last year, and next week he would have had to go to the Czech Republic to play for Spain," Hewitt said.

"It's no wonder there are so many players playing with niggles.

"There has to be a greater off-season for all of us to spend more time getting our bodies right and preparing for the new year."

Ferrero has withdrawn from Spain's tie, while Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean is out of Guy Forget's team to face Croatia.

Injury has forced Thomas Johansson and Magnus Norman out of the Swedish team seeking to avenge its 5-0 quarter-final hammering by Australia in Malmo last year.

Scud says he's ready for cup tie
February 3, 2004 - 5:05PM

Mark Philippoussis said he was ready to take on Sweden in the Davis Cup tie on Friday, despite his late arrival into Adelaide.

Philippoussis only flew in from Melbourne on Tuesday because of a business commitment.

But he said he had practised hard and prepared well following his disappointing fourth round exit from the Australian Open.

The Scud said he had put his Open loss behind him and did not believe he had anything more to prove with the national team in Adelaide.

"This is a Davis Cup tie and just as I did in the other ones I'll give it 110 per cent, go out there and win it for myself, the team, the captain, coach and the country and that's what it's all about," he said.

Meanwhile Swedish captain Mats Wilander will wait until the last minute to pick his singles players.

Wilander said he had a number of options and planned to take several factors, not just form, into consideration.

He also believed his team could overturn last year's 0-5 second-round loss to Australia.

Wilander said the pressure would all be on Australia this time as the defending champion playing on home soil.

Scud ready for Davis Cup

February 03, 2004
MARK Philippoussis said today he was ready to take on Sweden in the Davis Cup tie on Friday, despite his late arrival into Adelaide.

Philippoussis only flew in from Melbourne this afternoon because of a business commitment.

But he said he had practised hard and prepared well following his disappointing fourth round exit from the Australian Open.

The Scud said he had put his Open loss behind him and did not believe he had anything more to prove with the national team in Adelaide.

"This is a Davis Cup tie and just as I did in the other ones I'll give it 110 per cent, go out there and win it for myself, the team, the captain, coach and the country and that's what it's all about," he said.

Meanwhile Swedish captain Mats Wilander will wait until the last minute to pick his singles players.

Wilander said he had a number of options and planned to take several factors, not just form, into consideration.

He also believed his team could overturn last year's 0-5 second-round loss to Australia.

Wilander said the pressure would all be on Australia this time as the defending champion playing on home soil.

Fitzgerald brushes problems aside

Australian Davis Cup captain John Fitzgerald has brushed aside suggestions he has anything but a focussed and united team heading into Friday's tie against Sweden in Adelaide.

And Fitzgerald has refused to let his players buy into the simmering rows between past and present team members and current teammates.

"We're not really interested in anything that angles towards tabloid journalism," Fitzgerald said on Tuesday.

"It's not what this team's about, we're about getting together as a team and putting in our best effort on the court.

"This team is a very solid unit and we're not interested in trying to develop a story that we don't think there's anything in.

"It's been overplayed to the point of the ridiculous."

His comments came after a week of controversy with Mark Philippoussis rowing with former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash following his disappointing fourth-round exit from the Australian Open.

Philippoussis was also criticised by teammate Todd Woodbridge who described him as the type of guy who was happy to give 70 per cent.

Fitzgerald refused to allow either Woodbridge or the Scud to comment on Tuesday saying the team is ready to go.

"I think this team's prepared," he said.

"We've got a group of guys who enjoy each other's company, a group of guys who are trying to defend a Davis Cup."

With his captain battling to maintain a united front Philippoussis appeared to add fuel to the fire with a late arrival into Adelaide.

He only flew in from Melbourne this afternoon but he said that was because of a business commitment.

Philippoussis said he had practised hard in Melbourne following his Australian Open loss and did not believe he had anything extra to prove this weekend.

"This is a Davis Cup tie and just as I did in the other ones I'll give it 110 per cent, go out there and win it for myself, the team, the captain, coach and the country and that's what it's all about," he said.

Philippoussis said he just wanted to put his straight-sets loss to Morocco's Hicham Arazi in Melbourne out of his mind as quickly as possible.

"It was just one of those days when you walk on court when you try to do different things to change the tempo and nothing works," he said.

"It happens. Athletes are going to have days like that, I don't think that will be my last one too.

"As long as I learn from that, I think that's the most important thing.

"Matches like that can definitely be good for you in the long run."

Swedish captain Mats Wilander said he planned to wait until the last minute to pick his singles players for Friday's opening rubbers.

Wilander said he had a number of options and would take several factors, not just form, into consideration.

He also believed his team could overturn last year's 0-5 second round loss to Australia with the pressure all on the defending champions playing at home.

Wilander also declined to express an opinion on the row enveloping the Australian team.

"There's more important things to think about," he said.

Fitzgerald defends Scud
Australia's Davis Cup captain John Fitzgerald has defended Mark Philippoussis in the wake of the recent row over his poor showing at the Australian Open.

Philippoussis joined the Davis Cup team in Adelaide today to prepare for this weekend's tie against Sweden.

'The Scud' has been at the centre of a storm of controversy since former coach Pat Cash accused him of letting his relationship with pop star Delta Goodrem distract him from his tennis.

Cash made his comments after Philippoussis crashed out of the Open in straight sets against Hicham Arazi.

Philippoussis's Davis Cup team-mate Todd Woodbridge weighed in when he said he would not start a relationship during a Grand Slam like the Australian Open.

But today Fitzgerald moved to pour cold water on the row.

"This team is a very solid unit and we're not interested in trying to develop a story that we don't think there's anything in,' he said as Philippoussis and the rest of the team fronted a press conference.

"I think it's been overplayed absolutely to the point of the ridiculous ... these guys are all here fighting together."

Fitzgerald said Philippoussis was delayed in Melbourne because of contractual obligations.

With the opening matches to be played on Friday, Philippoussis will have only two days of practice, but says he is well prepared.

"We've had a few days in Melbourne - myself, Lleyton (Hewitt) and Wayne (Arthurs) and Wally (Masur, coach) trained pretty hard on the court - so it's not like I haven't been doing anything," he said.

"I've been working pretty hard on the court and I had a hit today, so it'll be enough preparation."

Sweden have the players to upset Aussies, says Wilander
Robert Smith (AFP)
Adelaide, Australia, February 3

Sweden may have been thrashed at home last year but captain Mats Wilander is confident he has the players to upset the Davis Cup champions Australia in this weekend's opening round.

The Swedes were humiliated 5-0 by Australia in Malmo last April and have yet to win their three ties in Australia going back to 1986, but Wilander is putting on a determined face.

The Australians, who won the Davis Cup in last December's final against Spain in Melbourne, are red-hot favourites to smash the young Swedes, minus 2002 Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson.

Lleyton Hewitt holds an imposing 23-5 record in Davis Cup and is just one win away from Adrian Quist's record of 24 singles wins for Australia set back in the 1940s, while Mark Philippoussis led his country to victory with a stirring five-set win over Juan Carlos Ferrero in last year's final.

"I definitely think we have the talent to beat Australia," Wilander said at a team press conference here on Tuesday.

"These guys can beat any players in the world on any given day. I think it's a little bit different playing away and the pressure is on Australia this time while last time it was on Sweden.

"We've had a good preparation playing at the Australian Open on this surface, so it's going to be who plays the best on the day."

The Swedes have been training as a group on the Memorial Drive court since last Thursday, while Australia only came together on Tuesday as a team to begin practice in the wake of the Australian Open in Melbourne.

"We came here on Thursday and we've had a lot of practice days and we've had a lot of time on the centre court, so we are very well prepared," Wilander said.

"We've been over here for quite a few weeks and I'm sure these guys are dying to leave Australia, but at the same time we want to end on a good note and you can do the opposite and have your best performances at the end."

Wilander wouldn't divulge his thoughts on who will play singles in Friday's opening rubber, although he believes he has the squad to trouble the Aussies.

"I don't know my singles players yet and I like to keep it that way. There are so many things that can physically go wrong that you don't want to make your mind up the day before in case someone gets hurt.

"In my mind I can see where we can beat Lleyton and Mark on the court, someone can volley against this guy, someone can stay back against Mark, it's a dream scenario, hopefully it will work out.

"We have four guys who are fighting for a spot in either singles and doubles and that's a perfect situation and they all can play on the surface."

Wilander will have to decide whether to play seasoned Thomas Enqvist, doubles specialist Thomas Bjorkman or youngsters Joachim Johansson and debutant Robin Soderling in the singles.

"This is the first time I've been nominated for the team and it's a tough draw to be paired with the defending champions but at the same time I think we have a really good chance to win this time," said Soderling, who beat highly-ranked German Rainer Schuettler in the first round of this year's Australian Open.

"We lost pretty big last time, but everyone's been hitting the ball well and we are going to try our best.

"The win over Schuettler really helped me with my confidence and to beat one of the strongest guys on the tour in five sets after coming back from two sets down really helped me," he said.

Skipper comes to Scud's aid
Captain John Fitzgerald Tuesday jumped to the defence of under-fire team member Mark Philippoussis as he was questioned over his furious row with Pat Cash in the wake of his dismal Australian Open exit last week.

The Australian team had their first press conference here ahead of Friday's Davis Cup opening tie with Sweden, giving media their first opportunity to address questions to Philippoussis over his feud with ex-coach Cash.

Cash and Philippoussis' Davis Cup teammate Todd Woodbridge were both critical after Philippoussis went out in straight sets to Morocco's Hicham Arazi in the fourth round of the year's first Grand Slam last Monday.

Woodbridge said Philippoussis had always been content to give "70 percent" on the court, while Cash suggested Philippoussis's social activities had distracted him.

Philippoussis, whose friendship with Australian singer Delta Goodrem sparked a publicity frenzy during the Open, angrily telephoned Cash after learning of the comments.

But Fitzgerald interceded at the team conference when Philippoussis was asked about the controversy.

"This team is a very solid unit, we're not interested in trying to develop a story that we don't think that there's anything in, it's been over-played absolutely to the point of the riciculous," Fitzgerald said, cutting in on a questioner.

"I don't think we're interested in anything that borders on tabloid journalism, if Pat Cash says it, then we're not going to listen, if he said something like that.

"I think this team is prepared, it hasn't affected us at all. We're a solid unit, we have a group of guys who enjoy each other's company, a group of guys who are trying to defend the Davis Cup."

Philippoussis, who had Woodbridge sitting alongside him at the conference, only arrived on Tuesday from Melbourne after fulfilling business commitments.

"I had something I had to do in Melbourne, fulfil some contracts and I came over as soon as it was done," Philippoussis said.

He said he had been practising at home with teammates Lleyton Hewitt and Wayne Arthurs and he was getting ready to face the Swedes.

Asked if he had anything to prove after his inglorious showing against the unseeded Arazi at the Open, Philippoussis said: "No, I don't think I have anything extra to prove, with this Davis Cup tie and every other one I go out to give 110 percent for myself, my team, my country."

The Australians realise they are on a hiding to nothing against the Swedes, whom they thrashed 5-0 in Malmo last year, and coming just a week after the Australian Open fortnight.

"This is one of the toughest first-round encounters that you can have," Hewitt said.

"Even though we've come out on top of the last two times against Sweden, they have four really capable players so we have to be wary on the first couple of days.

"Any time you play Davis Cup the motivation is there, (and) we've been fortunate enough to be playing on the Rebound Ace surface and also to be playing in Adelaide which isn't a huge flight.

"It would be a lot harder to go away and play somewhere straight after the Australian Open.

"The focus since last year's Davis Cup final for all of us was the Australian Open, it was a big tournament for us leading in, and afterwards you just don't want a let-down over the next few days because you have to get straight into it now.

"I think all the boys are willing to accept our losses at the Australian Open and move forward and look forward to this week and defend our title as well as possible

Rafter backs Philippoussis

February 3, 2004

TOWNSVILLE, Qld, Feb 3 - Former world number one Pat Rafter believes Mark Philippoussis will be in prime condition for this weekend's Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group opener between Australia and Sweden.

Rafter, who last night defeated Swedish Davis Cup captain Mats Wilander in an exhibition match, backed his former doubles partner.

"He'll go out there and give 100 per cent, not 70 per cent," Rafter said.
Rafter said he wouldn't be picking up his racquet again any time soon.
"I'm not going to play for a little while now," Rafter said.
He also put to bed any chance of him making a permanent return to the tour.
"I always felt like I wanted to go out on top, while I was still having good results on tour," he said.

The former US Open winner though did hint he may be interested in taking control of the Davis Cup squad some time in the future.
"Further down the track maybe, certainly not for a little while," he said.
"Fitzy and Wally are doing a great job with that at the moment."

Wilander is yet to decide who'll play singles in the tie against Australia.
"You always have a dream scenario with two singles and two doubles players," Wilander said.
"I have a rough idea."

(Tennis Australia)

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Rafter says Hewitt will scale heights again
Leo Schlink
03feb04

PAT Rafter predicts a swift return to the top five for Lleyton Hewitt as the former world champion prepares to lead Australia into Davis Cup battle this weekend.

Rafter, who last night returned to singles competition for the first time in more than two years when he played an exhibition against Swede Mats Wilander in Townsville, does not believe Hewitt is a spent force.

"No way," Rafter said in reaction to the critics who interpreted Hewitt's fourth-round Open loss to

Roger Federer as a sign that the South Australian's career was on the wane.

"The game is changing all the time and I saw that at the Australian Open, but Lleyton will always find a way to win.

"At the moment, Roger Federer is the No. 1 player in the world, but it doesn't take much to change things.

"Lleyton is a great player and he ran into Roger Federer at the Australian Open at the wrong time. He didn't play badly and he's always looking for ways to improve his game.

"He's going to be a force for a long time."

Hewitt was ranked No. 1 in the world for 75 weeks, a period in which he won two majors and two Masters Cups.

The baseliner's mark fell to No. 17 at the end of a season blighted by injury, but has since rebounded to No. 11.

The optimism surrounding the renaissance that started with a magnificent Davis Cup semi-final win over Federer and a tournament victory in Sydney faded after his Open defeat to Federer. But Rafter had no doubt his former Davis Cup teammate would soon regain a single-digit ranking.

Rafter paid scant heed to theories Hewitt did not have the power to compete with Andy Roddick, Marat Safin, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Federer and rising Spaniard Rafael Nadal.

"Lleyton's taken on bigger, stronger guys throughout his career and he's done very well," Rafter said.

"He has his own way of winning and, although the game is changing all the time, he's moving with it."

Rafter, who returned briefly to ATP and grand slam competition in doubles with fellow Queenslander Josh Eagle, warned Australia would have its hands full with Sweden from Friday.

Hewitt, Mark Philippoussis, Wayne Arthurs and Todd Woodbridge combined to thump Wilander's Swedes 5-0 in Malmo in April, but will strike greater resistance this time.

"Davis Cup is always tricky," Rafter said. "It doesn't matter who you play or what their rankings might be.

"I expect us to win with the players we have, but you never underestimate the Swedes."

Hewitt and Philippoussis are likely to be confronted in singles by Thomas Enqvist and Jonas Bjorkman.