Rafter cleared to play Davis Cup final

Australia's Patrick Rafter was cleared to play in the Davis Cup final against France starting on Friday after an arm injury had briefly threatened to ruin his farewell to tennis.

Australia's non-playing captain John Fitzgerald said Rafter's right arm was still not 100 per cent but good enough for him to take his place in the three-day final.

"There is no secret Pat has had some soreness in his arm but all along we believed that he would play," Fitzgerald said.

"You just can't bet your life on these things...so we are delighted he is fit and ready to go."

Rafter, who was drawn to play French number one Sebastien Grosjean in Friday's second singles match, said he always expected to play in what is looming as possibly his last event.

The former world number one has already announced he plans to take next year off and has hinted he may retire altogether if he can crown his career with an elusive Davis Cup victory.

Rafter was beaten by Grosjean in this month's Masters Cup tournament in Sydney but the two-time Wimbledon finalist said he believes his serve-and-volley game gave him a distinct advantage over Grosjean at Melbourne Park's temporary grass court.

"It's pretty important to play your own game on a grass court and my game is better suited for grass than someone like Sebastien," Rafter said.

"I know if I serve well and play well the result is really in my hands. It's just playing classic grass court tennis as best as I can."

Australia's Lleyton Hewitt, the new world number one, faces Nicolas Escude in the opening match of the tie, looking to continue his great end-of-season form and overturn his shock loss to Escude earlier in the year.

The Frenchman upset Hewitt in five sets in the fourth round of Wimbledon but the 20-year-old Australian said he was confident of beating him this time.

GREAT FORM

Hewitt has been in great form over the latter half of the year, winning the U.S. Open in September and the Masters Cup to confirm his place as the hottest player in the game.

"I'm playing a lot better now than I was then," Hewitt said. "I am going out there with the confidence that I'm playing well."

Wayne Arthurs and Todd Woodbridge were named as Australia's doubles pairing although Fitzgerald said he could change his mind depending on the results of Friday's opening singles matches.

"We are going to play each day as it comes but we have options, just as the French do," Fitzgerald said.

"You just have to have confidence in the thoroughbreds you put on court and faith in their ability."

French captain Guy Forget did make a late change to his lineup, picking Fabrice Santoro and Cedric Pioline for the doubles at the expense of Australian Open finalist Arnaud Clement.

Forget said he was confident with the players he had selected but admitted his team faced a huge challenge trying to beat the Australians.

"We have good spirit in the team but spirit is one thing and the ability to go out on the court and play your best is another," Forget said.

"It's going to be very difficult. I don't think you can beat guys like Pat and Lleyton just waiting for them to miss."

UPSET RHYTHM

Grosjean and Escude both said their best hope of winning was to attack the Australians from the start and try to upset their rhythm.

Escude said his previous win over Hewitt had given him some confidence but that match would have little bearing on Friday's encounter.

"That match was five months ago...I don't want to look back," Escude said.

"I've got nothing to lose. Lleyton is the number one player in the world and I have try my best to beat him."