28th November, 1999

FINALLY, JUSTICE

Our Davis Cup team can cap a great year for Australian sport by winning the final against France in Nice on Sunday. With the cricket, netball and rugby union teams winning world championships, the Davis Cup guys want to share in the same kind of achievement and emotion.

If we bring the Cup home, John Newcombe and T ony Roche deserve a lot of the credit.

They were hammered in 1995 when we lost to Hungary and dropped out of the world group for the first time. But we have had a lot of away ties since they took over from Neale Fraser and they have had to deal with a lot of injuries too.

By getting Australia into the final this year, they have again shown what a great combination they are.

I have worked with "Rochey" since 1994 and have the utmost respect for him. He does not say much but when he does speak, it is worth listening to.

He works with the guys on technique and, in my opinion, is the best coach in the world. Ivan Lendl said the same when he got to No. 1 and won eight majors under Rochey.

"Newk" works more on the tactical and mental side of the game. He and Rochey give us the perfect combination.

Newk and I have a very good understanding. Going back to the match against Pioline in Sydney two years ago when I was down two sets to love, Newk said all the appropriate things at the appropriate times. I ended up winning a match which effectively turned my career around. I learned to believe that anything is possible.

Newk knows enough of my personality now to understand that I do not always want to be talked to. During the quarter final this year in Boston I was upset by all the controversies of where the tie should be played and whether the Americans were going to play Todd Martin or Pete Sampras on the last day.

At the time, I felt that had Newk said anything to me when I was two sets down. I would probably have got even angrier.

I ended up winning and afterwards we agreed if Newk had got stuck into me earlier maybe I would not have got myself into so much trouble.

Newk brings out the best in all of us in the heat of battle. He knows how each of us is going to respond. Rochey does all the ground work and gives us every chance to play our best. Victory in Nice would cap six years of hard work by them.

If Lleyton Hewitt, Mark Philippoussis, Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde, as well as Sandon Stolle, Wayne Arthurs, Richard Fromberg and Andrew Ilie, can pull the final off, it will be on of Australia's greatest wins.

I think Lleyton is the guy who can go a long way towards getting the job done. He has been working really hard training and I can see him winning both his singles.

His match against Cedric Pioline will be a highlight. They have played three tiems this year. Lleyton thrashed him at the Australian Open in January before winning a tight match on grass at Queens in London in June. Pioline won their last match - a third-set tiebreak - in Paris last month after Lleyton had his chance to win it. I can see Lleyton winning in four sets.

I am hoping Mark Philippoussis can beat Sebastien Grosjean. Mark did not get to San Remo to train until Friday, but he's looking good.

Hopefully, for Australia's sake, the match could be decided on the Saturday if Todd and Mark can win the doubles, but it is going to be very tough. Olivier Delaitre and Fabric Santoro played the Woodies on clay this year and were awesome. But one thing you can count on with Mark and Todd is that they are mentally tough - and capable of working things out even when they are in a lot of trouble.

There is a good chance the tie could come down to the fifth match - and that would mean Lleyton and Grosjean playing for the Davis Cup. In that situation, I would back Lleyton every time.

My shoulder continues to respond well and I am planning to start light hitting in two weeks. But it is too early to say whether I will play the Australian Open.

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