December (07/12/2001)
Rafter named as Australia's most inspiring athlete
MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Twice U.S. Open champion Patrick Rafter has been officially recognised as Australia's most inspiring athlete during 2001.
The Wimbledon finalist received the annual "Don" award at Thursday's Australian Sports Hall of Fame dinner.
The award is named after Australia's cricketing legend, the late Sir Donald Bradman, and recognises athletes who set an example both on and off the playing field.
Rafter, who showed amazing grace in his Wimbledon final loss to Goran Ivanisevic, won the award ahead of a distinguished field that included retired rugby union captain John Eales, cricket captain Steve Waugh, swimmer Grant Hackett, golfer Karrie Webb and Rafter's Davis Cup team mate Lleyton Hewitt.
Previous winners of the award include runner Cathy Freeman, swimmer Ian Thorpe, cricketer Mark Taylor and marathon runner Heather Turland.
Golfer Bruce Crampton, equestrian rider Phillip Dutton, rower Nick Green, Australian Rules footballer Peter Hudson and squash player Michelle Martin were named as this year's five new inductees into the Hall of Fame.
Five-times British Open golf champion Peter Thomson was elevated to "legend" status.
There are 318 members in the hall of fame, of whom 21 are recognised as legends.
(02/12/2001)
France Wins The Davis Cup As Escude Completes Fairytale
Melbourne, Dec. 2
The Australian dream of a Davis Cup victory on home soil has been ended by Nicolas Escude, who defeated Wayne Arthurs 7-6(3) 6-7(5) 6-3 6-3 in a nailbiting fifth rubber to hand France its ninth Davis Cup title. The visiting nation's amazing performance in Melbourne came as a huge disappointment to the hosts, who were left struggling to comprehend how they had lost a tie where everything possible had been done to ensure they were favourites.
The French truimph avenged their defeat at the hands of the Aussies in Nice two years ago, and the nation went one better than Australia in becoming the first nation for 29 years to lift the trophy having played all four of its ties away from home. The Aussies travelled for all but one of their ties when they won the Davis Cup in 1999.
"I played very well all weekend. It's amazing to me to win the Davis Cup Final. I can't talk very well, it's an amazing feeling," said Escude, who in becoming France's newest sporting hero increased his perfect Davis Cup singles record to 8-0. It was certainly the greatest moment of his career, he said.
French Captain Guy Forget said, "I am very proud of these guys". He had always had faith in the talent of his team, but could hardly have imagined that events this weekend would be played out so dramatically. "I feel so happy I can't speak too well... I feel like I'm still playing, sitting in that chair there."
A huge burden had been placed on the untried shoulders of Arthurs, and for two sets he repaid the confidence placed in him by captain John Fitzgerald and by Patrick Rafter, who believed that the 30-year-old lefthander was more than capable of stepping into the breech once it was known that he himself would be unfit to play. But as the match went on, Escude's greater experience shone through and the hopes of a nation proved too much for Arthurs, who was never able to break the Frenchman's serve.
It was soon after Hewitt had drawn the tie level with his straight-sets victory over Sebastien Grosjean that the crowd in Rod Laver Arena learned that the script had been revised, and that Rafter would not after all get the chance to go to his indefinite break from the game in a blaze of glory. But the electric fifth rubber provided all the drama they could have wished for, and was played in an atmosphere unlike any seen before at Melbourne Park. When Arthurs levelled the match by winning the second set tiebreak, Australian supporters took their inflatable kangaroos on a lap of honour around the stadium. When Escude won the third set, the French supporters responded in kind, waving the tricolore.
Arthurs saved three break points on his serve in the first set but with neither man able to make any further impression the opener was decided on a tiebreak which was clinched at the first opportunity by Escude when the Australian sent a crosscourt forehand wide. The Frenchman said afterwards that, although he had practised against a lefthander, it took him a while to read Arthurs' formidable serve.
In the first game of the second set it was clear that Escude was beginning to master it, forcing the Australian to save six break points in the opening game. Arthurs' nerve held however, and stayed strong for the rest of the set, although he failed to capitalise on three chances of his own against Escude in the sixth and eighth games. Whilst he resisted the challenge, he was unable to mount one of his own, but he got the vital chance in the tiebreak and, with Australian fans at fever pitch, took it 7-5.
Escude never wavered however, and in the fourth game of the third set struck on his 12 break point opportunity to take a 3-1 lead which he maintained to win the set 6-3. The Frenchman's confidence now growing, he won two service games to love in the fourth set before breaking Arthurs in the sixth game, and nine games later it was all over as he struck a volley past the Australian on his second match point.
While Arthurs sank his head inconsolably into a towel, Escude raised his arms aloft and was engulfed on the temporary grass court by his teammates. Joy in the French camp was unconfined as they linked arms to sing the Marseillaise, accompanied by the small band of loyal fans who had travelled 12,000 miles to witness their country's momentous victory.
Australian Captain John Fitzgerald was gracious in defeat, paying tribute to Escude: "Nicolas was extraordinary, he served like a genius today." "You couldn't ask for anything more in your tennis career", Arthurs said of the huge responsibility that he had been given, "And I'm unbelievably disappointed that I couldn't get the job done". Hewitt meanwhile gave notice that he would be back for more in 2002: "Hopefully next year we'll come back and be a bit stronger and a bit better."
Despite his joy, Forget more than anyone understands the disappointment of Fitzgerald his men but had a message for them. "It was a difficult thing for me when we lost in Nice... so I know what John is going through now. But it only took us two years to do it again."
