Spain will pin their faith in top gun Juan Carlos Ferrero to keep their Davis Cup challenge alive in the first of the final's reverse singles against Australia in Melbourne on Sunday.
Spanish hopes of a second Cup crown were dented with a shattering straight sets loss in Saturday's doubles to trail 2-1 heading into the decisive return singles matches. The Australian combination of Todd Woodbridge and Wayne Arthurs swept to an emphatic 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 victory over Spaniards Alex Corretja and newcomer Feliciano Lopez.
Ferrero, who was reeled in by Lleyton Hewitt in a five-setter on Friday, shapes up to home-town hero Mark Philippoussis, who showed some frailties when going down in four sets on the portable grasscourt to clay-courter Carlos Moya.
Should world No.3 Ferrero overcome big-serving Philippoussis it will be down to Hewitt and Moya to play off in the fifth rubber for the destiny of this year's Davis Cup. Spain are definitely not out of it, but the job is ahead of them on Australia's favoured grass playing surface.
Filed by James Boylan
