|  | | Members of the French team hold Nicolas Escude in high regard as they celebrate winning the Davis Cup. |
France wasn't expected to go to Melbourne and topple the host country on its own grass, but an early loss by world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt, an injury to Pat Rafter and the overall play of Nicolas Escude brought France its ninth Davis Cup title. Escude, 8-0 in Davis Cup singles matches, beat Wayne Arthurs in the deciding fifth match, which Rafter could not play due to tendinitis.
Key doubles win | Will Rafter return?
Finals results (France 3, Australia 2)
Friday Singles
Escude (France) def. Hewitt, 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
Rafter (Australia) def. Grosjean, 6-3, 7-6 (6), 7-5
Saturday Doubles
Pioline-Santoro (France) def. Rafter-Hewitt, 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-1
Sunday Reverse Singles
Escude (France) def. Arthurs, 7-6, 6-7, 6-3, 6-3
Hewitt (Australia) def. Grosjean, 6-3, 6-2, 6-3
Bracket |
Championships history
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| More coverage |
Davis Cup delay could affect Paes, India coach says
Leander Paes has not played any competitive tennis since the end of the U.S. Open.
Makeshift stadium still being set up for Brazil-Australia tie
Gustavo Kuerten
and Patrick Rafter, two the world's top tennis players, will
come face-to-face on Friday within sniffing distance of a fruit
and vegetable market.
Brazil wins tie 4-1 to set up repeat of last year's semi
Brazil easily finished out its tie against Morocco winning 4-1 on Sunday as Gustavo Kuerten comfortably beat Mounir El Aarej 6-2, 6-2.
Sweden edges out Czech Republic 3-2
Thomas Johansson beat Jiri Novak 7-6, 6-3, 6-7, 6-2 in Sunday's decisive second reverse singles to give Sweden a 3-2 Davis Cup victory against the Czech Republic.
Dutch complete 4-1 victory against sorry Spain
Outgoing Davis Cup champion Spain avoided a whitewash against the Netherlands on Sunday when Carlos Moya defeated Raemon Sluiter 6-4, 7-6 (2).
France routs Belgium 5-0
France swept to a 4-0 lead over Belgium on Sunday after Arnaud Clement defeated Filip Dewulf 6-3, 7-6 (10).
Germany takes both singles matches to advance
Nicolas Kiefer crushed unheralded Gabriel Trifu 6-3, 6-1, 6-4 to present Germany with a hard-fought 3-2 Davis Cup victory against Romania on Sunday.
Kafelnikov comeback gives Russia 3-2 Davis Cup win
Dominik Hrbaty thrashed Marat
Safin 6-3, 6-1, 6-4 to pull Slovakia level with Russia at 2-2 in
their Davis Cup first round on Sunday.
Switzerland swamps United States out of Davis Cup
Roger Federer defeated Jan-Michael Gambill 7-5, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 on Sunday to knock the United States out of the Davis Cup.
Australia beats Ecuador in first round of Davis Cup
Lleyton Hewitt beat Nicolas Lapentti 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 in the reverse singles Sunday to send Australia over Ecuador in the first round of the Davis Cup.
Roddick eager to take advantage of Davis Cup
Teenager Andy Roddick has taken a bold step up the ladder of American tennis by being selected to the U.S. Davis Cup squad.
Davis Cup format not changing, despite protests
To the disappointment of Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras, don't expect any changes in the Davis Cup format any time soon.
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U.S. ousted
