|
 |   |
|
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Multimedia Central Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE |  |
Aussie blitz Australians sweep Brazil, look ahead to Davis final
BRISBANE, Australia (AP) -- Spearheaded by a rejuvenated Pat Rafter, defending champion Australia completed a 5-0 sweep of Brazil in the Davis Cup semifinal to reach back-to-back finals. The Wimbledon finalist capped Australia's demolition with a 6-3, 6-4 win Sunday against Fernando Meligeni in the fifth and final match. Rafter, who was recovering from shoulder surgery last year when Australia clinched its 27th Davis Cup title by beating France in Nice, said he was back in peak form. "After nine months of struggling back with the shoulder, it's really enjoyable," said Rafter, who was thrown into the opening singles match Friday just five days after losing the Wimbledon final to Pete Sampras. After his win Sunday, the two-time U.S. Open champion peeled his shirt off and threw it into the crowd, which had packed the makeshift grass-court venue at ANZ Stadium the last three days. With Meligeni and Rafter performing head stands on court and rival captains Ricardo Acioly and John Newcombe joining the frivolity at court side, the inconsequential last rubber became an exhibition match. Australia advanced to a grand final showdown against the winner of next week's United States vs. Spain semifinal. Rafter said he'd prefer the U.S. to beat Spain to give Australia a home final Dec. 8-10 in Melbourne but added that he was about 90 percent sure the Spanish would win and, therefore, host the final in Barcelona. Newcombe said he was hoping for an Australia vs. United States final because beating Spain in Spain would be a tougher prospect than it was to beat France in France last year. "Everyone hates playing the Spanish in Spain because they're so good on clay," said Newcombe, who is retiring as captain after the final. Earlier Sunday, Lleyton Hewitt needed just 69 minutes to dispose of Andre Sa, a late replacement for French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten, 6-4, 6-1. Kuerten withdrew due to a groin injury after losing the doubles on Saturday. "It's difficult to get yourself up for a dead rubber after the excitement of yesterday, advancing to our second final in two years, but I'm pretty happy with the win," Hewitt said. Australia held an unbeatable 3-0 lead going into the third day of the best-of-five match semi after winning both opening singles matches and the doubles. Rafter beat Kuerten in straight sets Friday and Hewitt defeated Meligeni to give Australia a commanding 2-0 lead. Wimbledon doubles champion Mark Woodforde and Sandon Stolle teamed Saturday to overcome Jaime Oncins and Kuerten in five sets to stamp out Brazil's semifinal campaign. Newcombe said he planned to stick with the same lineup for the final, increasing speculation of a major rift in the Australian camp over the late withdrawal of Mark Philippoussis, who pulled out with a knee injury. Stolle was called into the Australian team and, with Newcombe saying he will pick a specialist doubles team for the final, was expected to be retained in the Australian lineup ahead of Philippoussis.
| ||||||||||||||||||||
