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Aces for Aussies Philippoussis clinches Davis Cup with win over Pioline
Posted: Sunday December 05, 1999 12:45 PM
NICE, France (AP) - Mark Philippoussis led Australia to Davis Cup glory on Sunday when he overpowered French No. 1 Cedric Pioline to give his country an unassailable 3-1 lead in the centenary final. Philippoussis fired 15 aces in a 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 win that gives Australia its 27th Davis Cup victory and its first since 1986. The partisan French crowd hoped that the match was turning when the big-serving Aussie failed to make the most of a set point in the second set. But the 23-year-old reacted brilliantly, cranking up his famed service and pummeling Pioline with a series of powerful forehand shots. By the end, Philippoussis was in total command, winning in just two hours, 42 minutes. 'That was the best match Mark has played with his head in his life,' said Australian captain John Newcombe. 'He didn't have highs and lows, just highs.' The winning team lifted Philippoussis onto its shoulders as the Australians in the crowd began wild celebrations, with Pioline in tears by the court. Australia had begun the day with a 2-1 lead after winning Saturday's doubles clash. Philippoussis looked particularly nervous as the players came onto the court amidst a cauldron of noise from the 10,000 crowd, but it was Pioline who began more uneasily, double-faulting on break point in the first game to give the Aussies an early boost. The Australian coupled his famed big serve with a series of powerful forehand groundstrokes that rattled Pioline, who double-faulted again on Philippoussis' first set point to put the Australian one set ahead. Philippoussis missed the chane to take the second set, when Pioline was serving at 4-5. Philippoussis, stretching his six-feet-four-inch frame to reach a drop shot, put the ball wide. He lost patience in the next game playing a wayward forehand at break point to allow Pioline to serve out the set. The French crowd hoped that the match was turning but Philippoussis, after a long pep talk from Newcombe, came out with all guns blazing in the third set, taking a 5-0 lead in a mere 24 minutes before taking the second set 6-1. Philippoussis turned on the style at 1-1 in the fourth set, blasting four powerful winners past a bemused Pioline, including one blistering forehand onto the line that had the Frenchman holding his head in his hands.
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