Todd Woodbridge had already made his decision to serve his country for another year.

But he was grateful to have it endorsed by none other than Prime Minister John Howard.

Woodbridge, 32, whose future was unclear before this weekend's tie, announced he would play on after Mark Philippoussis sealed Australia's Davis Cup victory in the first reverse singles match.

Later in the locker room as he was congratulating the team, Mr Howard told Woodbridge he knew what it was like to have a nation second-guessing about your retirement.

"As he was leaving he came up and said 'I know how you feel, everyone asking if you are going to be hanging around for another year'," Woodbridge said.

"He told me it's best to play it a year at a time."

Woodbridge's 29 Davis Cup ties is a record for an Australian, surpassing the mark set by Adrian Quist who played his last Cup match in 1946, 16 years after his first.

An Olympic gold medallist, Woodbridge has also equalled the record for the most doubles titles won in regular tournament play at 78, the same number as Dutchman Tom Okker.

He has also won 15 grand slam doubles titles, including eight at Wimbledon.

This was Woodbridge's second Davis Cup final victory, as it was for Lleyton Hewitt and Philippoussis.

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