Philippoussis to open Davis Cup - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Philippoussis to open Davis Cup

By Maria Hawthorne 04/04/2003 05:55:04 AM Comments (0)

Mark Philippoussis will open Australia's Davis Cup quarter-final campaign on Friday when he takes on Sweden's top-ranked tennis player Jonas Bjorkman.

The resurgent Philippoussis has just leapfrogged Bjorkman in the world rankings, with the Australian up three places to No.70 and the Swede down two to 71.

World No.1 Lleyton Hewitt will play the second rubber of the day against Thomas Enqvist (87).

If Hewitt was disappointed not to be playing first, he wasn't showing it.

"I don't think it bothers me too much," Hewitt said.

"Hopefully Flip can go out there and get the job done and we'll be one-nil up. If not, then I'll be focussed on going out there and getting my match won anyway.

"Most times that Flip and I have played the singles I've played second. I'll be sitting in the locker room watching a little bit but not a lot, not trying to get involved in his match and I'll just try and concentrate on going out there and getting the job done."

Team captain John Fitzgerald named Todd Woodbridge and Wayne Arthurs as Australia's double pair to take on Bjorkman and Enqvist on Saturday.

Hewitt will play Bjorkman in the first match on Sunday and Philippoussis will play Enqvist in what could be the deciding rubber of the tie.

Swedish captain Mats Wilander predicted it would be a close competition.

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