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Centenary Celebrations and Lleyton Hewitt: 2000-present 2000
Having celebrated the Cup centenary in 1999, the Davis Cup had travelled to four continents, 10 countries and 18 cities. Once again the new Davis Cup year provided the competition with a new record. 136 nations competed for the trophy, battling their way through to winning matches and the chance to challenge for the now hallowed Cup. Embarrassing times were ahead for Great Britain as they deservedly lost to the Czech Republic, in their opening World Group clash and shortly after Wimbledon managed to lose to Ecuador with the Lapenti brothers, who considered grass court tennis unfavourable. Spain however, some would say were the deserved winners of the competition. Over the past five years they had produced clay court players of versatility, in the shape of Carlos Moya, Albert Costa, Alex Corretja and lately Juan Carlos Ferrero.
Now they were beginning to rival the success of era's past when Manolo Santana and Juan Gisbert were in their pomp in the 1960s. Twice the Spanish had been runners-up - once in 1965 against the mighty Australians, then again in 1967 - it was to be third time lucky for the brave Spaniards. At the Palau Sant Jordi, in Barcelona, winning captain Javier Duarte selected Costa and Ferrero for the singles and Juan Barcells and Corretja for the doubles. Australian captain John Newcombe had last year's champions at his disposal, except for Todd Woodbridge in the doubles. But 'Newc' replaced Woodbridge with the equally talented Sandon Stolle, son of Fred, to partner Mark Woodforde. The Australians didn't give in easily, as Hewitt, full of confidence, survived an epic five set encounter with Albert Costa, winning 3-6, 6-1, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 on the red clay. From then on, Duarte's words at changeovers inspired the Spanish to win the next three ties. Never before had Spain been in a better position on home soil to conquer the Aussie's tradition competition and ceremonial displays. Ferrero defeated Rafter before the likeable Australian retired midway through the fourth set.In the second day doubles Barcells and Corretja beat Stolle and Woodforde, both of whom were considered to be doubles specialists, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. Then it was the turn of the fast emerging youngster Ferrero to teach Hewitt a lesson, in one of their many battles that year. Ferrero won four tough sets 6-2, 7-4, 4-6, 6-4. Spain had won the Cup and their name was etched on to 'Dwight's Little Pot' for the first time, winning as they did 3-1. 2001
For Lleyton Hewitt all his Christmas's came at once in 2001. A winner of ATP tournaments, he received the adulation of the Australian public, by beating Pete Sampras in the US Open final in September, then, topped it off by being crowned the number one male player in the world. The Davis Cup final was a spectacle to behold. I was fortunate enough to be present at the match, which gave the Australian public their chance to hail the latest star of the men's tour. It was Pat Rafter's swansong. Earlier in the year the 29-year-old had said this would be his last game, before an 'in-definate' break. Unfortunately for Rafter and Hewitt, the Rod Laver arena, in Melbourne, with a specially laid grass surface, was not up to standard and all the players complained about the uneven bounce. France ripped the script up in front of Australian eyes as they defeated them on their own turf. Grass should have given Australia an advantage, but late-season good form of Sebastian Grosjean, in particular made the battle difficult to call.
With a capacity crowd for all three days, the match went to the fifth rubber. Nicolas Escude had surprisingly defeated Hewitt in five sets in the opening rubber, before Rafter serve-volleyed his way to a straight sets win against Grosjean in the second rubber. New Australian captain John Fitzgerald held all the aces, but couldn't put together a winning team, as Pioline and Santoro beat Hewitt and Rafter in four sets. Things went from bad to worse, overnight, as Rafter's shoulder - which had plagued him over the years - stiffened up, and it was decided for what could be the deciding rubber big-serving grass specialist Wayne Arthurs, would take Rafter's place. Hewitt swept past Grosjean with the ease of a number one, but when Arthurs, came onto court, he knew the whole of Australia was willing him on. Nerves got the better of him as he double-faulted his way through the deciding match. He lost to Escude, 7-6, 6-7, 6-3, 6-3, and as the fireworks went off, Australia's celebrations turned sour. Hewitt blamed his opening day defeat against Escude as his countries downfall, but winning captain Guy Forget had moulded experience and talent together, just as Noah had done as captain with Forget in 1991. France took the Cup back to Roland Garros, and the French President, as players old and new celebrated another long-awaited victory. Three days later, I had the chance to play with Noah, Leconte and Forget ahead of the Champions Tour event, in London, at Queen's Club. I can tell you they still had hangovers and hadn't slept a wink!
2002 As Pete Sampras won his fifth U.S. Open title and his 14th Grand Slam, in New York, there was speculation that U.S. Davis Cup captain Patrick McEnroe could encourage the legend into playing in the semi-final tie against France in Paris, three weeks later. Sampras felt too exhausted and was considering his options for further play or retirement. This left McEnroe with a decision to make to face the current holders; a decision was made and with a team that consisted of youth in Andy Roddick and James Blake, and the experienced Todd Martin.
Neither of the young American's had lost a Cup battle and it was soon to change as on the opening day. Arnaud Clement dealt Roddick a massive blow, triumphing in four sets 4-6, 7-6(6), 7-5(5), 6-1 on the Phillipe Chatrier Court at Roland Garros. Sebastian Grosjean then beat Blake - one of the 2002 tours most improved players - 6-4, 6-1, 6-7(7), 7-5, despite losing three match points in the third set. Blake and Martin combined well in the doubles to beat Michael Llodra and Fabrice Santoro 2-6, 7-6(2), 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 to offer the American's some hope, but all was lost on the third day as Grosjean wasted little time in the first reverse singles against Roddick, winning 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to send France to their third final in four years and their 15th appearance. In the other semi-final match Russia faced Argentina in Moscow. It was a chance for Marat Safin to exorcise his demons from the recent US Open and a terrible season and for Yevgeny Kafelnikov to win the one trophy he desires - having lost in the final in 1994 to Sweden and 1995 to USA - before possibly retiring soon. The pair laid claim to the Cup immediately winning their opening day singles at the Luzhniki Sports Palace. In the doubles it was a different case as 20-year-old Davis Nalbandian and Juan Ignacio Chela posted an historic 17-15 fifth set victory, which left the final day's reverse singles on a knife edge. Safin though, rode his luck against Nalbandian, firing down 25 aces in his roller-coaster four set 7-6, 6-7, 6-0, 6-3 victory, giving Russia an unasailable 3-1 lead, ahead of the 'dead' rubber, which was contested by Chela who beat Gaston Gaudio substitute Mikhail Youzhny 7-6, 6-7 6-4. Russia now face France, playing away for the first time this year, on the indoor clay of the Bercy Arena, in Paris. Underplaying Russia's chances Safin said: "It's going to be really tough. The French team can play on any surface and have many different players they can use. However we don't have anything to lose and if we are confident, who knows what can happen?" In the World Qualifying Rounds - which were played over the same weekend as the World Group semi-finals - Roger Federer led Switzerland back beating Younes El Aynoui's Morroco 3-2; Tim Henman single-handedly kept Great Britain in the Top 16 nations for next year with two singles and doubles victory partnering Miles Maclagan. The Netherlands beat Finland 4-1 with fine performances from Raemon Sluiter; and Germany with Tommy Haas and Nicolas Kiefer guaranteed their place in the elite World Group.
While in Australia, the talk was off Pat Rafter possibly never making a return to competitive play following the birth of his daughter, ahead of their clash with India. Mahesh Bhupathi mysteriously quit the side days before the tie was to commence fuelling speculation that an in-house argument has insued. This left Leander Paes to achieve the almost impossible and lead his nation to the World Group against a weakened Australian side, but still with the support of world number one Lleyton Hewitt. A whitewash for the Aussie's with the help of Wayne Arthurs and Scott Draper, cheered the Adelaide crowd into hoping that the 2003 campaign will be set on the right track. 2003 The draw for the 2003 World Group was made on October 3rd 2002 and some interesting battles have sprung up inclusing Great Britains trip to Australia, a country Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski's side haven't beaten since 1978, at Wembley and since 1912, Down Under. With Lleyton Hewitt the only top player fit and on-form at the moment, Great Britain captain Roger Taylor will be hoping that a February trip against opposite number John Fitzgerald may see the northern hemisphere nation win their first World Group match since 1986. Other World Group ties include: France play Romania; Netherland the Swiss; Sweden vs Brazil, Croatia, the United States; Spain the Belgiums; Germany the Argentinians and Czech Republic vs Russia. All 1st Round ties are to be played between the 7th-9th February 2003.
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