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Word war begins Davis Cup doubles teams each claim upperhand
Posted: Wednesday December 01, 1999 05:02 PM
NICE, France (Reuters) -- Arguably the world's best tennis pairing over the past decade, Australians Mark Woodforde and Todd Woodbridge face double trouble going into this weekend's Davis Cup final in France. Not only have their French opponents Olivier Delaitre and Fabrice Santoro got the better of them in their last two matches, but they must face them on clay -- the Woodies' least favorite surface. "We have lots of respect for them, they have been one of the best, or maybe the best team in the world over the past 10 years," said Santoro. "They won everything... except the French Open," he added, stressing that clay was not the Australians' best surface. Delaitre, in fact, has beaten the Woodies on the last three occasions. "I beat them with Fabrice in the quarterfinals in Cincinnati last season and in the doubles Masters," he said. "And I also beat them with [Indian) Leander Paes in Indianapolis," he added. Saturday's doubles match could again prove decisive. Since 1981 the team that has won the doubles has won the cup. Woodbridge and Woodforde have the best doubles record in the Davis Cup with 13 victories and just two losses and Woodforde says he does not really fear the French. "They beat us twice but each time we were far from our best. They're not impressive physically and have some weaknesses, like all teams," he said. "And their two victories against us will put pressure on them," he added. But the French insist they can win, especially on clay. "They play very neat tennis and they're excellent when balls bounce at hip level," said Santoro.
"But on clay, balls bounce shoulder high. What's more important is that their game plan is based on two or three rallies... if you make them play longer, they become vulnerable."
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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