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Ace duo tilt the scales in favour of Australia after doubles triumph
Melbourne, Nov 30: Australia take a 2-1 lead over Spain in the Davis Cup final. Wayne Arthurs and Todd Woodbridge teamed up to beat Alex Corretja and Feliciano Lopez 6-3 6-1 6-3 on Saturday (November 29) and give Australia a 2-1 lead over Spain in the Davis Cup final.
Melbourne, Nov 30: Australia take a 2-1 lead over Spain in the Davis Cup final. Wayne Arthurs and Todd Woodbridge teamed up to beat Alex Corretja and Feliciano Lopez 6-3 6-1 6-3 on Saturday (November 29) and give Australia a 2-1 lead over Spain in the Davis Cup final.
The Australian pair hardly raised a sweat on a hot and sunny day at Melbourne Park's Rod Laver Arena as they wrapped up the vital doubles rubber in less than two hours.
The result left Australia needing to win just one of Sunday's two reverse singles matches to claim the Davis Cup for the 28th time.
Mark Philippoussis and Juan Carlos Ferrero, who were both beaten in Friday's opening singles, play first on Sunday followed by Lleyton Hewitt and Carlos Moya.
If history is any guide, Australia already have one hand on the trophy. In the 84 years that the Davis Cup has been contested, only five teams have recovered from 2-1 down to win.
Australia's non-playing captain John Fitzgerald said Woodbridge and Arthurs had played perfect doubles tennis.
"Todd has mastered the art of doubles," Fitzgerald said. "He was a maestro and Wayne Arthurs has come a long way over the last two years.
"Realistically ... they are probably the best doubles combination in the world right now."
It was a special occasion for Woodbridge who was playing his 29th Davis Cup tie, beating the previous Australian record of 28 held by Adrian Quist.
Already one of the greatest doubles players of all time, Woodbridge showed he had lost none of his touch as he showed off his full repertoire of shots against a bewildered Spanish pairing.
Australia snatched the first set when they broke Corretja's opening service in the fourth game then raced to a 2-0 lead when they broke Lopez then Corretja again.
They grabbed the decisive break in the third set when Lopez cracked in the sixth game with Woodbridge serving out victory as the strains "Waltzing Matilda" filled the stadium.
On Friday, there was high drama even before the opening match when Spain's sports minister ordered the team not to start until an apology had been issued after officials played a pre-civil war republican anthem at the opening ceremony.
But there was no mistake on Saturday and the correct anthem was played before the start of the doubles.
Bureau Report
Australia's non-playing captain John Fitzgerald said Woodbridge and Arthurs had played perfect doubles tennis.
"Todd has mastered the art of doubles," Fitzgerald said. "He was a maestro and Wayne Arthurs has come a long way over the last two years.
"Realistically ... they are probably the best doubles combination in the world right now."
It was a special occasion for Woodbridge who was playing his 29th Davis Cup tie, beating the previous Australian record of 28 held by Adrian Quist.
Already one of the greatest doubles players of all time, Woodbridge showed he had lost none of his touch as he showed off his full repertoire of shots against a bewildered Spanish pairing.
Australia snatched the first set when they broke Corretja's opening service in the fourth game then raced to a 2-0 lead when they broke Lopez then Corretja again.
They grabbed the decisive break in the third set when Lopez cracked in the sixth game with Woodbridge serving out victory as the strains "Waltzing Matilda" filled the stadium.
On Friday, there was high drama even before the opening match when Spain's sports minister ordered the team not to start until an apology had been issued after officials played a pre-civil war republican anthem at the opening ceremony.
But there was no mistake on Saturday and the correct anthem was played before the start of the doubles.
Bureau Report