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BRISBANE, Australia -- One day after sweeping its
singles matches, Australia turned to two of its top doubles
players to eliminate Brazil and advance to its second straight
Davis Cup final.
Mark Woodforde and Sandon Stolle moved Australia within a round
of successfully defending its title Saturday with a 6-7 (3-7), 6-4,
3-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory in three hours, 25 minutes over Gustavo
Kuerten and Jaime Oncins.
In a marathon doubles contest, the 34-year-old Woodforde and
Stolle secured a service break in the 10th game of the decisive
set.
"It just feels unreal to get through this one after a few
disappointments," said Stolle, who was 0-3 in the Davis Cup
before this weekend. He was lifted onto the shoulders of his
euphoric teammates after serving out the tense match.
Woodforde is playing Davis Cup for the 10th and final year
before retiring at the end of 2000. He and Todd Woodbridge
teamed to win their sixth Wimbledon doubles crown last Saturday.
Stolle, the son of former Australian Davis Cup player Fred
Stolle, has reached this year's French Open and Wimbledon
doubles finals, but he and Dutchman Paul Haarhuis lost to
Woodforde and Woodbridge both times.
"All of us wanted it for Sandon because he's had some real
bitter defeats," Australian coach John Newcombe said.
Kuerten, the French Open champion, was hampered by groin and
back injuries. He lost to Wimbledon finalist Patrick Rafter,
6-3, 6-2, 6-3, in Friday's first singles match, and most likely
will not play the dead rubber singles match on Sunday.
Teenage sensation Lleyton Hewitt gave Australia a commanding 2-0
lead with a 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 rout of Fernando Meligeni.
Australia defeated Germany, 3-2, in April to earn a spot in the
semifinals. It has won 27 Davis Cup titles, second only to the
United States' 31.
This is only the second Davis Cup meeting between the nations,
with Australia winning, 4-1, in 1955.
The United States and Spain square off in the other semifinal
from July 21-23 in Santander, Spain.
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ALSO SEE
Doubles team gives Australia unbeatable lead
Saturday's results
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