Australia Stolle into Davis final

Australia Stolle into Davis final
AGENCIES

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

Stolle ended his Davis Cup heartbreak by serving it out for his firstdoubles victory at the fourth attempt to clinch a 6-7 (3/7), 6-4, 3-6, 6-3,6-4 triumph in three hours 25 minutes to wrap up the tie 3-0 with the tworeverse singles to play on Sunday.

And they were given a ringing endorsement by captain John Newcombe who saidthe semi-final team of Woodforde, Stolle, Patrick Rafter and Lleyton Hewittwould be the same for the December 8-10 final against either Spain or theUnited States.

If that is the case stayaway Mark Philippoussis will be overlooked for thefinal after his controversial withdrawal from the semi-final citing aninflamed knee from his Wimbledon campaign.

The Australians are expecting Spain to put John McEnroe's weakened US teamto the sword in Santander, Spain, next week to set up a final indoors onclay in Barcelona.

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

Spadea on US squad

GSTAAD (Switzerland): American Vince Spadea on Saturday found a silverlining in the clouds which have wrecked the programme this week at the$600,000 Swiss Open after confirming his availability for the American DavisCup team.

``This is a lifetime achievement and one I want to take advantage of,'' hesaid. ``I'm honoured that he (coach John McEnroe) called me. I didn'thesitate to come back with a positive answer.''

The 25-year-old Floridian will join an ad-hoc squad comprising Todd Martin,Jan-Michael Gambill, Chris Woodruff and McEnroe, who had nominated himselffor doubles just in case. Spadea will likely fulfil those duties now.

With Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras both out with injury, McEnroe faces afight to get his team past the Spaniards on clay at Santander, Spain fromJuly 21-23.