Melbourne, Nov 17: World number nine Mark Philippoussis will lead Australia in the Davis Cup final against Spain, the team's captain John Fitzgerald today said.
Philippoussis will be joined by former world number one Lleyton Hewitt, Wayne Arthurs and doubles specialist Todd Woodbridge for the tie to be held over the weekend of November 28-20 on a specially-laid grass court in Melbourne.
All four have played in each of Australia's wins in the Davis Cup against Britain, Sweden and Switzerland this year.
The only difference is that Philippoussis replaces Hewitt as the top-ranked singles player, after Hewitt slipped to number 18 in the world.
The former US Open and Wimbledon champion has not played since the Davis Cup semi-final victory over Switzerland in September.



Hewitt, Philippoussis and Woodbridge were all part of the successful 1999 Davis Cup team who beat France in the final in Nice.



Hewitt was expected to be the first player to arrive in Melbourne for the final, with him taking practice on Tuesday.


Bureau Report