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Hewitt spared Moya showdown with Scud`s defining win
Melbourne, Nov 30: Lleyton Hewitt gave Australia a 1-0 lead with a five-set win Friday over Ferrero before Carlos Moya beat Philippoussis. Wayne Arthurs and Todd Woodbridge beat the Spanish pair of Alex Corretja and Feliciano Lopez in straight sets yesterday to give Australia a 2-1 lead.
Melbourne, Nov 30: Lleyton Hewitt gave Australia a 1-0 lead with a five-set win Friday over Ferrero before Carlos Moya beat Philippoussis. Wayne Arthurs and Todd Woodbridge beat the Spanish pair of Alex Corretja and Feliciano Lopez in straight sets yesterday to give Australia a 2-1 lead.
Hewitt and Moya were scheduled to play in the meaningless final match later today.
Philippoussis, who was so ineffectual in his four-set loss to Moya in the opening singles, promised better things in today's match and held true to his word - at least in the first two sets.
But Ferrero outplayed the Australian in the third and fourth sets in steamy conditions on a temporary grass court at Rod Laver arena.
Temperatures on court in excess of 30c (86f) sapped energy from both players.
Before the fifth set began, Ferrero received massage treatment on his legs and arms while Philippoussis took an injury time out to have work done on his right shoulder.
Australia has been up 2-1 on the beginning of the third day in 222 various rounds of Davis Cup matches and has lost only four times.
Philippoussis held one set point in the ninth game of the first set but Ferrero fought back to hold service. Two games later, leading 6-5, Philippoussis made no mistake, holding three set points on Ferrero's serve, including a deft drop shot at the net.
Bureau Report
Hewitt and Moya were scheduled to play in the meaningless final match later today.
Philippoussis, who was so ineffectual in his four-set loss to Moya in the opening singles, promised better things in today's match and held true to his word - at least in the first two sets.
But Ferrero outplayed the Australian in the third and fourth sets in steamy conditions on a temporary grass court at Rod Laver arena.
Temperatures on court in excess of 30c (86f) sapped energy from both players.
Before the fifth set began, Ferrero received massage treatment on his legs and arms while Philippoussis took an injury time out to have work done on his right shoulder.
Australia has been up 2-1 on the beginning of the third day in 222 various rounds of Davis Cup matches and has lost only four times.
Philippoussis held one set point in the ninth game of the first set but Ferrero fought back to hold service. Two games later, leading 6-5, Philippoussis made no mistake, holding three set points on Ferrero's serve, including a deft drop shot at the net.
Bureau Report