TheMase
Brownlow Medallist
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AUSTRALIA's re-focused Mark Philippoussis says he will join world No.1 Lleyton Hewitt in Adelaide for the critical Davis Cup world group qualifying tie against India at Memorial Drive next month.
Provided he is fit and without problems from the preceding US Open, the Scud will be in Adelaide for the September 20-22 match, team captain John Fitzgerald said in Adelaide yesterday.
Hewitt is expected to come home immediately after his US Open defence for Davis Cup training. Optimistic Fitzgerald has also not ruled out former world No. 1 Pat Rafter for the tie.
Rafter has taken a total break from tennis since December's loss to France in the Davis Cup final and is on the Gold Coast with his long-time partner, Lara Feltham, and their first son who was born yesterday but is yet to be named.
A loss to India in Adelaide would cast Australia out of the top division and thwart its chances of winning the Davis Cup for at least two years.
A relaxed Fitzgerald, who had a hit to test the pace of the Memorial Drive hardcourts yesterday, said Philippoussis, ranked 104 in the world, would be ready to support Hewitt in singles.
"He said at the beginning of the year if he's fit he has a desire to play Davis Cup for his country," Fitzgerald said. "Nothing would make me happier than to have a full-strength side against India.
"A player of (Philippoussis') talent you want in your team, no question."
Hewitt and Philippoussis missed Australia's away loss to Argentina in February in the Davis Cup first round. The loss has forced Australia to fight for the right to remain in the top-ranked world group.
"It's fair to say he wasn't ready in February," Fitzgerald said.
"He played well here in Adelaide (the final of the AAPT Championships in January) in best of three sets but at the Australian Open they were the first two five-set matches he'd played . . . since the US Open the year before.
"Best of five is pretty strenuous on your body."
Provided he is fit and without problems from the preceding US Open, the Scud will be in Adelaide for the September 20-22 match, team captain John Fitzgerald said in Adelaide yesterday.
Hewitt is expected to come home immediately after his US Open defence for Davis Cup training. Optimistic Fitzgerald has also not ruled out former world No. 1 Pat Rafter for the tie.
Rafter has taken a total break from tennis since December's loss to France in the Davis Cup final and is on the Gold Coast with his long-time partner, Lara Feltham, and their first son who was born yesterday but is yet to be named.
A loss to India in Adelaide would cast Australia out of the top division and thwart its chances of winning the Davis Cup for at least two years.
A relaxed Fitzgerald, who had a hit to test the pace of the Memorial Drive hardcourts yesterday, said Philippoussis, ranked 104 in the world, would be ready to support Hewitt in singles.
"He said at the beginning of the year if he's fit he has a desire to play Davis Cup for his country," Fitzgerald said. "Nothing would make me happier than to have a full-strength side against India.
"A player of (Philippoussis') talent you want in your team, no question."
Hewitt and Philippoussis missed Australia's away loss to Argentina in February in the Davis Cup first round. The loss has forced Australia to fight for the right to remain in the top-ranked world group.
"It's fair to say he wasn't ready in February," Fitzgerald said.
"He played well here in Adelaide (the final of the AAPT Championships in January) in best of three sets but at the Australian Open they were the first two five-set matches he'd played . . . since the US Open the year before.
"Best of five is pretty strenuous on your body."
