The Australian Davis Cup Team have expressed satisfaction with the synthetic grass surface that will be used for their match with France. Practising on the court in Melbourne for the first time today, the Aussie side, which includes World number one Lleyton Hewitt and US Open champion Pat Rafter, appeared happy with the revolutionary surface.
Speaking after the training session, Wimbledon finalist Rafter said: "I thought it came up well, it played great." Australia's Davis Cup coach, Wally Masur, was in ebullient mood: "We're over the moon with the court. It's a spectacular innovation." Last year's beaten finalists are anxious to exorcise memories of that loss to Spain, particularly in front of their own fans. The French side have not played on the court yet, and although Australia are strong favourites, the French have good players. Sebastian Grosjean and Nicolas Escude, who beat Hewitt at Wimbledon, are in the team as well as Arnaud Clement.
Tennis Australia has claimed that it is the world's first portable grass court. They grew the surface 100 kilometres from where they will play the matches, after strips of grass were laid where traditionally a harder surface has been used for the Australian Open in January. Masur also said the court would get better the more the players practised on it.
Filed by John Raftery
