New high for Arthurs

Wayne Arthurs today buried the Davis Cup demons that have haunted him for two years as Australia took charge of the 2003 final with a doubles victory over Spain.

Playing alongside Todd Woodbridge at Rod Laver Arena, Arthurs was in commanding form as the Australians swept to a straight-sets victory in just one hour and 34 minutes.

Flushed with an historic victory, Arthurs immediately recalled that day in 2001 when he was forced to play the reverse singles because of an injury to retiring star Pat Rafter.

Arthurs was beaten by Nicolas Escude in the deciding rubber of the final, handing France the title and sat inconsolable on the courtside.

It was, he admitted today, the lowest moment of his career.

“I was in tears,” he recalled.

“I feel very fortunate to be playing in another Davis Cup final. That was the best I have played in a Davis Cup final. It is a different situation today, going into a 2-1 lead whereas last time I was the last rubber.

“In tennis you go through a lot of emotions. That was the lowest I have felt on a court. Today was one of the highest.”

That is with good reason as the established Woodbridge/Arthurs partnership dismantled the Spanish duo of Alex Corretja and Feliciano Lopez with a clinical, dominant display.

Australian captain John Fitzgerald described it as one of the most complete performances; Corretja said it was like playing a team “from another planet”.

The pair are not regular doubles partners on the ATP tour and so have no official ranking together, but Fitzgerald believes they would be up there as the finest in the world.

Woodbridge is an experienced player, an Australian Davis Cup record-holder and has won 78 tour titles mostly as half of the ‘Woodies’ partnership with Mark Woodforde.

But Arthurs is enjoying something of an Indian summer.

“He has improved out of sight for a player that was 30 years of age (at Australia’s last Davis Cup final) and is now 32. He and Todd right now are the best doubles team in the world,” said Fitzgerald.