Patrick Rafter fought back from two sets down against courageous Todd Martin yesterday for an extraordinary five-set triumph that clinched victory for Australia against the United States in their Davis Cup quarter-final tie in Brookline, Massachusetts.
Rafter trailed by 0-3 in the fifth set but raised his game in the searing heat at the Longview Cricket Club to win six of the last seven games for a 4-6 5-7 6-3 6-2 6-4 victory over Martin, who needed to be rehydrated before the match.
Rafter's rousing win gave Australia an unbeatable 3-1 lead in the best-of-five match Centennial Celebration tie. Australia advanced to the semi-finals, where they will host Russia, 3-2 winners over Slovak Republic.
"It was the most amazing experience I've ever had. I never felt like this before," said world number two and twice-defending US Open champion Rafter. "I don't know, this could be even better than the US Open."
Martin played despite US captain Tom Gullikson's efforts to replace him with Pete Sampras after Martin felt sick from heat exhaustion after his morning warm-up. The US team doctor thought Martin should not play, but referee Stefan Fransson ordered that Martin be examined by Rich Paul, a neutral doctor, who ruled that Martin was fit to play.
In effect, Paul, a member at Longwood Cricket Club, called Martin a liar who was trying to subvert Cup rules by faking exhaustion.
Meanwhile, Gullikson called Pete Sampras to the stadium and hurried him onto the court for a 20-minute workout. "He thought I was kidding," Gullikson said. "He said, `You're joking, right?' I said, `I'm dead serious."
Sampras had decided to play only doubles at the tie. He said Martin and Jim Courier deserved the singles slots after their heroics in a first-round victory over England.
Ironically, a rule change starting next year would allow substitutions freely without any question of subterfuge.
The last scheduled match between Australian teenager Lleyton Hewitt and Jim Courier was rendered meaningless after the heroic singles struggle on a sizzling stadium hardcourt.
