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Australia to face Spain on grass in Davis Cup final
September 30, 2003 11:44 IST
Australia's Davis Cup final against Spain on November 28-30 will be played in Melbourne on a portable grass court, Tennis Australia (TA) announced on Tuesday.
The move is designed to favour Australia's 2002 Wimbledon champion Lleyton Hewitt and this year's runner-up Mark Philippoussis.
Spain's world number one Juan Carlos Ferrero and former world number one Carlos Moya are more at home on clay.
Ferrero is the French Open champion and Moya won the Roland Garros title in 1998.
"Tennis Australia has confirmed the Davis Cup final between the ... Australian Davis Cup team and Spain will be played on natural grass at Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne," a TA statement said.
"The portable grass court as used in the 2001 final between Australia and France will be transported from its current home in Seymour (near Melbourne) and installed over the Rebound Ace before November 19."
Spain beat Australia in the 2000 final on clay in Barcelona.
Australia lost the 2001 final to France on a grass court that was patchy but is expected to play better this time.