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Australia Leads Davis Cup final 2-1
( 2003-11-29 13:51) (Agencies)

Todd Woodbridge and Wayne Arthurs gave Australia a 2-1 lead in the Davis Cup tennis final, beating Spain's Feliciano Lopez and Alex Corretja 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 in doubles Saturday.

Australian players Todd Woodbridge, left, and Wayne Arthurs embrace after their doubles victory over Spain during the Davis Cup final in Melbourne, Australia, Nov. 29, 2003. Woodbridge and Arthurs defeated Spain's Feliciano Lopez and Alex Corretja in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1, 6-3, to lead the tie 2-1.  [AP]
The title will be decided on Sunday when Mark Philippoussis takes on Juan Carlos Ferrero in the first reverse singles, followed by Lleyton Hewitt's match with Carlos Moya.

Hewitt gave Australia a 1-0 lead with a five-set win Friday over Ferrero while Moya beat Philippoussis in four sets to level the final after the first day.

Arthurs and Woodbridge, playing in their sixth Davis Cup match, broke Correjta's serve in the fourth game of the opening set to go up 3-1. Lopez, playing in his first Davis Cup match, had only played one previous doubles match with Corretja.

The Australian pair broke Corretja again in the third game of the second set. At the end of the set, Corretja took an injury timeout to have a sore shoulder worked on by medical officials, but it only delayed the inevitable as Australia took the match easily in just over 80 minutes.

Woodbridge's appearance set a record for matches in the nation's 84-year Davis Cup history. It was Woodbridge's 29th Davis Cup event for Australia, breaking the mark of 28 set by Adrian Quist between 1933 and 1939.

Woodbridge began his Davis Cup career in 1991 for Australia and has a record of 26-10 ¡ª 23-6 in doubles and 3-4 in singles.

"I was calm and really focussed, and I had a lot of confidence in Wayne," Woodbridge said of Saturday's match.

This year, Woodbridge won his 78th doubles title on the ATP tour, equaling Tom Okker of the Netherlands for most career doubles titles since the start of the Open Era in 1968.

On Saturday, officials at Rod Laver Arena played the correct Spanish national anthem, a day after they played an outdated one that had Spanish officials fuming.

Spain's Sports Minister Juan Antonio Gomez-Angulo waved furiously and yelled from the stands when the anthem was played. The correct anthem was then played, and was repeated Saturday without a problem.

Spain beat Belgium in the first round of this year's competition, then defeated Croatia and Argentina to advance to the final. Australia won its opening match against Britain, then defeated Sweden before a semifinal win over Switzerland.

Australia has won the Davis Cup 27 times, four behind the leading United States. Spain's only win came in 2000 against Australia.

 
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