MELBOURNE, Australia, 10 December 2003 — Champions Australia will host Sweden on a hardcourt in their first round Davis Cup tie in Adelaide from Feb. 6-8, Tennis Australia announced here yesterday.
Australia beat Spain 3-1 on a portable grasscourt in the city last month to win their 28th Davis Cup after Mark Philippoussis clinched the win with a five-set victory over Juan Carlos Ferrero. Adelaide’s Memorial Drive venue was last used in the 2002 World Group playoff against India and the 2000 quarterfinal against Germany, with Australia winning both ties.
Wimbledon Champion Federer Splits From His Coach
In Zurich, Wimbledon champion Roger Federer has split with his coach Peter Lundgren after the most successful year of his career.
The 22-year-old has been working with the Swedish coach, a close friend, since 1998 and yesterday’s announcement came just three weeks after Federer won the season-ending Masters Cup, thrashing Andre Agassi in the final. No decision on a successor has been made, a statement on Federer’s personal website said.“Peter Lundgren and Roger Federer have gone a lot further than the goals they had set,” the statement said.
“With the success and the skills that Roger has worked on with Peter Lundgren, Roger Federer is very well equipped for the challenges yet to come. But this also meant the desire for re-orientation in his environment in terms of sport.” Federer won more prize money in 2003 than any other player — $4 million — and finished second in the rankings behind American Andy Roddick.
