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Federer splits from coach

Wimbledon champion Roger Federer has split with his coach after the most successful year of his career.

The shock announcement comes just three weeks after Federer thrashed Andre Agassi to win the season-ending Masters Cup.

Federer and Sweden's Peter Lundgren were considered inseparable after teaming up in 1998.

But the Swiss star, 22, claims he needs a "new impetus", although he insisted he had not lined up a replacement.

"This decision comes after a lot of hard thinking," Federer said.

"I felt as if I'd fallen into sort of the same old routine and over the last few months our relationship has become more strained."

Federer told Lundgren of his decision last week.

"It wasn't easy and of course Peter was very disappointed," said Federer, who won more prize money in 2003 than any other player and finished second in the rankings behind American Andy Roddick.

Federer also won the Wimbledon title in July, beating Mark Philippoussis 7-6 6-2 7-6 in the final after overcoming Roddick 7-6 6-3 6-3 in the semis.

Federer has denied reports in Switzerland that he will replace Lundgren with former Olympic singles champion and compatriot Marc Rosset.

"I've never even considered that option," said Federer, adding that he was unconcerned about playing next month's Australian Open without a coach.

"I am hoping to find a coach capable of introducing me to new ideas. We will have to have the same approach to the game," he added.

Australia opt for hard court

Davis Cup champions Australia have chosen to play Sweden on a hard court in the first-round of next year's event in Adelaide.

Australia have defeated both India and Germany at the Memorial Drive venue in the last three years.

They also have a good recent record against Sweden, with two wins from their last two meetings.

Australia beat Spain 3-1 on a portable grass court in Melbourne at the end of November to win their 28th Davis Cup.

The United States will confirm the venue for their home match against Austria this week.

If Australia and the Americans win their first-round matches, they will meet in the quarter-finals, with Sydney the likely venue.

McEnroe takes Honda title

John McEnroe completed a magnificent return to form by beating Guy Forget in straight sets to win the Honda Challenge.

The 44-year-old American had claimed all week that he was in his best form for 10 years.

And after seeing off Michael Stich in the semi-finals, McEnroe swept past Forget 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 in Sunday's final.

McEnroe has also won this year's Delta Tour of Champions events in Brussels, Eindhoven and Monte Carlo.

He went into Sunday's final at the Royal Albert Hall having already beaten Forget in the round-robin stage.

"I knew it was going to be tough and Guy was going to try and take it to me," said McEnroe.

"But once he had an injury time out at 3-2, I thought 'I've got him'.

"I wasn't going to let it slip away, I picked it up, took it up another level, and put him away.

"End of story, game over, tournament mine, thank you very much."

McEnroe's victory has re-enforced his belief that he can remain competitive on the senior senior circuit for a while yet.

"I'm running out of time," he added. "That's why there's such urgency. It gives you some momentum and adrenaline, but I think I've a year or two left in me.

"I'm going to keep working out, keep myself ready, and I'll be ready again next year."

Melbourne salutes tennis heroes

Thousands of fans turned out in Melbourne on Monday to welcome Australia's triumphant Davis Cup team.

The quartet of Mark Philipoussis, Lleyton Hewitt, Todd Woodbridge and Wayne Arthurs were hailed as heroes.

"It was definitely emotional for me and for all of us," said Philippoussis, who clinched the win over Spain despite a painful muscle tear.

The shoulder injury is not expected to affect his preparations for January's Australian Open.

Philippoussis received the biggest cheers from his home crowd at Federation Square after his five-set win over Juan Carlos Ferrero which gave Australia an unassailable 3-1 lead.

Philippoussis told the crowd that Sunday's win had eclipsed Australia's last Davis Cup final victory against France in Nice in 1999, when he also won the decisive rubber.

"Nice was an incredible feeling, but this can't touch it. I was emotional, everyone was emotional and this was just a storybook ending."

Philippoussis underwent a scan on Monday and was diagnosed with a muscle tear in his chest and shoulder but the injury is not as bad as first feared.

"I am relieved that it is not a long-term injury and won't upset my preparation for the forthcoming Australian summer circuit," he said.

"It's not painful, not unless I touch it. If I raise my arm above my head, it's a little painful."

Philippoussis, once portrayed as the bad boy of Australian tennis, was lauded by local media with his picture on the front page of every major newspaper in the country.

The Age said his display against Ferrero had silenced his critics forever.

"Surely no-one could doubt Philippoussis's ability or heart again," the paper's tennis correspondent wrote.

Australia win Davis Cup

Australia have won the Davis Cup for a 28th time after Mark Philippoussis clinched a stunning five-set win over Juan Carlos Ferrero for an unassailable 3-1 lead in the final.

The Australian number one was severely hampered by a shoulder complaint, which looked set to scupper his chances of finishing the match.

But a lengthy injury time-out after the fourth set inspired Philippoussis to a superb final-set display and a 7-5 6-3 1-6 2-6 6-0 victory in front of a partisan Melbourne crowd.

Afterwards he said: "This is incredible. At the end I was just completely numb. It felt like I wasn't playing, I was sort of watching from the side.

"I didn't know what was going on. Thank God those shots were going in."

The result meant the defunct singles rubber between Lleyton Hewitt and Carlos Moya was scrapped.

The overall scores had ended level at 1-1 on Friday after Hewitt and Moya beat Ferrero and Philippoussis respectively in the opening singles rubbers.

But the hosts moved ahead on Saturday as doubles pairing Todd Woodbridge and Wayne Arthurs sealed a straight-sets win against Alex Corretja and Feliciano Lopez.

In Sunday's reverse singles, Philippoussis got off to a sharp start in a rubber Ferrero and Spain needed to win to keep alive their Cup ambitions.

Philippoussis had an early chance to break at 5-4 up in the first set, only for his opponent to hold serve.

It was only a matter of time, though, for the fired-up Australian, who broke the world number three to go into a 7-5 lead.

Ferrero, who had produced some stunning tennis in the opening tie of the final against Hewitt, struggled again in the second set and was duly broken at 2-1.

From there Philippoussis went on to comfortably move two sets clear, only for his rival to hit back in commanding fashion in the ensuing two sets.

It was a complete role reversal, as his serve fell apart and was blighted by a series of double faults.

Ferrero levelled the scores with incredible ease before Philippoussis' time-out.

That five-minute interval completely destroyed Ferrero's momentum and the Spaniard looked a shadow of his former self when play finally resumed.

Revitalised, Philippoussis produced arguably the best tennis of the entire final to coast to a 6-0 final-set victory, sealed with a powerful overhead smash.

A despondent Ferrero said: "The feeling is bad and of sadness. We came here with a lot of hope.

"We wanted to win this final but we had a bit of bad luck."

Pressure mounts on Australia

Carlos Moya beat Mark Philippoussis on Friday to make it 1-1 after Lleyton Hewitt had earlier edged Juan Carlos Ferrero.

Todd Woodbridge and Wayne Arthurs are favorites to win Saturday's doubles, but Moya's win has opened up the tie.

"Tomorrow is a pivotal day now," said Australia captain John Fitzgerald.

"Expect a close one."

Woodbridge and Arthurs have the edge over Spain's Alex Corretja and Feliciano Lopez in both experience and grasscourt ability.

"At 1-1, I guess both teams think they've got a realistic opportunity," said Fitzgerald.

"I think we start favorite in the doubles, but it's a two-horse race.

"If our guys can play to the level they played in the last two matches, in Sweden and here two months ago, they stand a very good chance, but they've got to produce the goods on the day."

The Spanish team appears the more relaxed after Moya beat grasscourt specialist Philppoussis.

"The Australians are the favorites but we feel that there's only a small difference between the skill of the players," said Spain captain Jordi Arrese.

"Tomorrow we have the doubles and it really doesn't matter which way it goes.

"We are very happy with the way our singles players are performing and they are highly motivated to take the cup home."

Former Australian captain John Newcombe was made to regret comments before the final suggesting Moya had little chance against Philippoussis.

He had said: "If Ferrero can't beat Lleyton on the first day, that is going to be the tie.

"They have to win that first match. I can't see Carlos beating Mark on grass."

Moya admitted: "Things like that are motivating.

"It is interesting when you hear comments like that coming from someone like John Newcombe, who has been a top player, a number one player."

Ivanisevic to miss Henman clash

Tim Henman has been denied the chance to exact some revenge on his old foe Goran Ivanisevic after the Croat pulled out of the Honda Challenge.

Ivanisevic had been due to take on Henman at the Royal Albert Hall next Thursday to raise money for the British number one's charity Kids at Heart.

But he was forced out with a recurrence of his shoulder problems.

Germany's Rainer Schuettler, who was runner-up at this year's Australian Open, will take his place.

Former Wimbledon champions Boris Becker and Michael Stich will be taking part in the event at the Royal Albert Hall along with three-times Honda Challenge winner John McEnroe.

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