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Aussies celebrate 27th Davis Cup triumph

Mark Philippoussis powered Australia to victory for the 27th time in a Davis Cup final, defeating Cedric Pioline 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 to give the visitors an unbeatable 3-1 lead over France today.

Philippoussis ensured Australia its first trophy in the worldwide competition since 1986 with his inspired thrashing of Pioline at the Acropolis Exhibition Centre.

The winner was hoisted onto the shoulders of his teammates; the loser burst into tears as he hugged his own squad members in defeat after two hours, 42 minutes.

The Australians, one of the world's most powerful and prestigious tennis nations, couldn't contain their joy at achieving their first Davis Cup glory in 13 years after a victory over Sweden at Kooyong, Melbourne in 1986.

The green-and-gold-clad Aussies then carried coaches John Newcombe and Tony Roche around the court.

''I knew it would be a tough fight,'' said Newcombe, a tennis icon. ''I have the greatest respect for the French; Cedric is a fighter. This was the most intelligent match Mark has ever played. He didn't have any lows, only highs. We are very proud to be here. Now we've got to figure out how to defend next year.''

A dead rubber - almost certain to be reduced to best-of-three sets - remained to be played between Aussie teenager Lleyton Hewitt and Sebastien Frosjean of France.

France, led by Guy Forget, a member of two Davis-winning sides, had been aiming to claim a third trophy this decade after 1991 and 1996.

But that dream was thwarted on the day by Philippoussis, at his big-serving best when it counted on the indoor clay chosen by the hosts to try and slow the Aussie juggernaut.

''This is a very sad day for the boys,'' said Forget. Newcombe's prediction that an Australian victory was ''destiny'' came true in a big way as the visitors prevailed, with only a loss by Hewitt on Friday against Pioline spoiling the run to the trophy. The title was another feather in the cap of Australian sport. In the past several seasons, the country has claimed world titles in both genres of rubgy, cricket, netball and now tennis.

Philippoussis finished off the match with an inspired fourth set, taking a 4-2 lead on his 14th and 15th aces of the afternoon. The Australian broke his flagging French opponent in the third and seventh games and set up three match points in the eighth. Philippoussis clinched victory from Pioline's 35th unforced error. The Aussie had 54 winners and 33 unforced errors.

In the 37-minute first set, Philippoussis rained down four aces, struck 15 winners and stayed out of self-inflicted trouble with only eight unforced errors.

The Australian broke to start the match against a Pioline who seemed to be having trouble with his ball toss in a game which went repeatedly to deuce.

The 13th-ranked Frenchman ended the third game with an ace, to bring the score to 1-2, but Philippoussis was not to be outdone, duplicating for a 5-3 lead.

Pioline put a backhand wide in the ninth game to hand the Australian two set points - one was enough as the Frenchman produced another double-fault to drop the opening set in front of 10,000 disappointed fans.

Serving for a 1-0 lead in the second, Philippoussis got into trouble, returning wide to lose serve on the first break point he faced on the afternoon.

The Australian managed to block out the roars of the pro-French public at the Acroplis Exhibition Centre, getting the break back in the fourth game and saving two break points before grabbing a 5-4 lead on a duel at the net.

Philippoussis moved into position for a two-sets-to-love lead, but let his golden opportunity slip in the following game. The 23-year-old earned a set point, but returned just wide.

Pioline stayed alive for 5-all, then gained a key point when Philippoussis double-faulted to yield a break point. Pioline accepted the gift, taking a 6-5 lead and serving out the set to square the match after one hour, 36 minutes a game later from Philippoussis's wide backhand.

But the Australian cranked his game up another notch in the third, racing to a 5-0 lead before the bewildered Pioline could get onto the scoreboard.

Allowing the Frenchman one game, Philippoussis then missed on two set-point chances before moving out to 2-1 on sets with a volley winner.

UNI

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