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Not needed Aussies don't want Philippoussis for finals
BRISBANE (Reuters) -- Australia's Davis Cup players have told their absent teammate Mark Philippoussis he will not be needed in this year's final after they completed a 5-0 win over Brazil on Sunday. Philippoussis was the hero of Australia's 3-2 win over France in the 1999 final but upset his teammates by withdrawing from this weekend's world group semifinal with Brazil. With Australia safely navigating their way past the South Americans to secure a second straight final appearance, against either Spain or the United States in December, the remaining players say they want to win it without the big-serving Philippoussis. "I've got confidence that the team that we've got now can get the job done," teenager Lleyton Hewitt said. "I'd like to be in that kind of atmosphere, win or lose. "He would be great in the future to have on our team, for sure, but obviously he has to mend a lot of things, I think, before he comes back on." Australia's Wimbledon finalist Patrick Rafter, who pleaded with Philippoussis to stop "jerking us around" when he heard of his withdrawal last week, said he also wanted to stick with the team that beat Brazil "I don't know if we want to change anything right now," Rafter said. "There's always good vibes and positive energy and I think that's very important if you want to win." Australia's captain John Newcombe, who plans to stand down after the final, refused to enter into the debate. "The final is in December and the next thing on the agenda is the U.S. Open and the Olympics," Newcombe said. "There's torrents of water to go under the bridge before we arrive at that decision." Philippoussis angered his compatriots when he withdrew from a 1998 tie with Zimbabwe that Australia subsequently lost but he appeared to mend the rift when he won his two singles matches in last year's final. He withdrew from the tie with Brazil because of injury and said he was upset at the way he had been criticized.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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