Australia Gains Davis Cup Finals

(AP)  Mark Woodforde and Sandon Stolle rallied from behind Saturday to win the doubles and give defending champion Australia a spot in the Davis Cup final.

Woodforde, who won the Wimbledon doubles with Todd Woodbridge , and Stolle defeated Brazil's Gustavo Kuerten and Jaime Oncins 6-7 (3), 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, giving Australia a 3-0 lead.

Australia, which won its 27th Davis Cup by defeating France in the final last year, will advance regardless of the results of Sunday's reverse singles.

Wimbledon finalist Pat Rafter will play Fernando Meligeni and Lleyton Hewitt was set to play Kuerten on Sunday, although Kuerten said he would probably withdraw due to a groin injury.

Australia will meet the winner of next weekend's semifinal between Spain and the United States, with the venue depending on the outcome in Spain.

Australian captain John Newcombe said he expects Spain to defeat an undermanned U.S. lineup to set up an Australia-Spain final Dec. 8-10 in Barcelona, Spain.

A win for the United States would set up a final in Melbourne, Australia.


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