No repeat of Argentina for Fitzgerald - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

No repeat of Argentina for Fitzgerald

By Glenn Cullen 30/01/2003 10:47:38 PM Comments (0)

Australia's first round Davis Cup loss to Argentina last year rankles captain John Fitzgerald so much he's determined not to make light of next month's tie against Great Britain.

Even if everyone else is.

While pundits have written the vastly understrength Brits off, Fitzgerald said he wouldn't be.

"I'm going to pick a team that's going to win and that's my priority - big time," Fitzgerald said as his squad practiced for the first time on purpose-built clay court at the Sydney International Tennis Centre.

"That thought of Argentina is still bright in my mind. We got to a final and then two months later we go to Argentina with a team that on paper was depleted and it's tough.

"I take losses as hard as anyone and my first priority is to win here - we just want to come out on top."

With leading Brits Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski both ruled out through injury, Britain will field a drastically weakened line-up led by Arvind Parmer (ranked 163), Miles MacLagan (443) and Alex Bogdanovich (459).

This against a full strength Australian team that includes world No.1 Lleyton Hewitt, former US Open runner-up Mark Philippoussis, and potential doubles pair Wayne Arthurs and Todd Woodbridge.

The lop-sided equation was enough to make one wag suggest 20 minute training sessions in the 40 degree-plus Homebush today were a good idea - because that would simulate the match times during the February 7-9 tie.

But Fitzgerald wasn't biting.

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