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This is an archive article published on July 16, 2000

Woodforde, Stolle script win Down Under

BRISBANE, JULY 15: Mark Woodforde and Sandon Stolle locked up a 45th Davis Cup tennis final appearance for Australia with a gripping five-...

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BRISBANE, JULY 15: Mark Woodforde and Sandon Stolle locked up a 45th Davis Cup tennis final appearance for Australia with a gripping five-set doubles win over Brazilians Gustavo Kuerten and Jaime Oncins here on Saturday.

Newcombe only learned of Philippoussis8217; unavailability when he rang the Scud at his Melbourne home from London last Saturday forcing a late change of plans for the Brazil tie on grass at ANZ Stadium here.

But it appears his patience with the occasional Davis Cup team member Philippoussis has run out as Newcombe winds down his seven-year tenure as Australian captain with a consecutive final appearance.

8220;The way we are looking at it right now the team that did the job in the semi will be the one that does the job in the final,8221; said Newcombe.

The Australians are expecting Spain to put John McEnroe8217;s weakened US team to the sword in Santander, Spain, next week to set up a final indoors on clay in Barcelona.

Should the Americans pull off an against-the-odds semi-final victory this year8217;s final will be in Melbourne on hardcourt.

Stolle was chaired off court by his jubilant teammates thrilled for him breaking through for his first Davis Cup doubles win. He had also lost nine consecutive men8217;s doubles finals, including the French Open and Wimbledon, this year.

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8220;There have been a lot of disappointments in Davis Cup and to finally get through today and to earn a point for the team is a great career highlight,8221; said stolle.

It was Australia8217;s eighth consecutive winning tie since losing their last home tie 3-2 against Zimbabwe in Mildura in April 1998.

Brazil, who will have to wait for another year to chase their elusive first Cup final, fought back today after their dismal opening day when Kuerten and Fernando Meligeni dropped their singles matches in straight sets to Rafter and Hewitt.

With Kuerten, talked into playing by his team overnight after complaining of a groin injury, leading the way the Brazilian pair, winners of eight of their last nine Cup matches, looked set to take the semi-final tie into the third and final day.

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8220;We always play well together and we had a two sets to one lead, some late opportunities, but at least it was closer, we played better today,8221; said French Open champion Kuerten.

8220;Personally, I feel much better today. I enjoyed myself more than yesterday. We tried hard.8221;

Just when the Brazilians were high-fiving each other and looking the likely winners, Woodforde and Stolle rallied breaking Oncins in the fourth set to level the rubber.

Oncins8217; serve cracked open and he was broken twice again in the fifth set as Australia took control.

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Kuerten had a match point against him on serve in the ninth game before Stolle served it out with two more match points to clinch the semi-final.

8220;There were a lot of emotions to go through in that long last game. I made all my first serves that game and the ball kept coming back, they hit a few let-cords and it was a tremendous high to win it,8221; said Stolle.

Woodforde, who broke his short-lived retirement to play against Germany in the quarter-finals in Adelaide last April, stands at 17-4 in Davis Cup doubles.

 

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