Aussies leave misfiring Scud out of Davis Cup squad
SYDNEY: Australia passed over out-of-form Mark Philippoussis when they released their squad yesterday for next month's opening Davis Cup tennis tie with Austria on grass here.
Philippoussis' tennis career has been in free-fall with his ranking plummeting to 201.
He was due to make a comeback from a groin injury in the ATP tournament in Scottsdale, Arizona, this week.
But Australian captain John Fitzgerald said he was not prepared to call on Philippoussis for the March 4-6 tie in Sydney.
“Fitzy (Fitzgerald) spoke to Mark a couple of times last week,” team coach Wally Masur said at the squad announcement here yesterday.
“He wants to be part of the Davis Cup but form and fitness are a concern and he just needs tennis.
“We will welcome him back into the team with open arms but at the moment it's a case of him working on his fitness and improving his ranking.”
In his place Fitzgerald has called on sporting all-rounder Scott Draper, who is currently juggling his time between professional golf and tennis.
Draper will vie with Wayne Arthurs for the second singles' spot behind world No. 2 Lleyton Hewitt.
The fourth member of the Australian squad is doubles specialist Todd Woodbridge.
Philippoussis' omission was on the cards after a disastrous run of first round losses last year amid injury and personal problems.
The former Wimbledon and US Open finalist injured his groin during the Hopman Cup in Perth last month.
Masur said Draper had indicated that he had put Davis Cup duty above all other sporting interests.
“He's the right man for the job,” said Masur. “He's played good over the Aussie summer and looks after himself.”
Australia last played Austria in 1989 in Vienna when an Australian team, which included Fitzgerald, Pat Cash and Mark Woodforde, lost 5-0 to a team led by current Austrian captain Thomas Muster and Horst Skoff. – AFP
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