Aussies Win 27th Davis Cup

December 3, 1999 / 4:06 PM EST / CBS/AP

Australia won the Davis Cup on Sunday, with Mark Philippoussis beating Cedric Pioline of France in the 100th anniversary of the tennis showcase.

Philippoussis had 15 aces in a 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 victory that gave Australia an unbeatable 3-1 lead in the best-of-5 final. This was Australia's 27th Davis Cup title and its first since 1986.

After the final point, Philippoussis was lifted by his teammates, as hundreds of cheering Aussies in the crowd waved banners and tossed inflatable kangaroos. The wild celebrations came with Pioline in tears by the court.

"This is the best moment of my life," Philippoussis said. "I concentrated really well. I can honestly say that I heard no noise from the crowd, just the ball hitting the line, the line calls and my heart beating."

"I got injured at Wimbledon this year and who knows if I could have gone on to win there," he added. "But I would take this for a Wimbledon win any time."

Australia began the day with a 2-1 lead after winning Saturday's doubles. Since 1978, every team that has won the doubles has gone on to win the trophy.

Australia eliminated Zimbabwe, the United States and Russia to reach its 44th Davis Cup final. The team nearly withdrew before its quarterfinal against the United States when organizers gave the Americans home advantage to celebrate the event's centenary.

In the final reverse singles match, Sebastien Grosjean of France defeated Lleyton Hewitt 6-4, 6-3, giving Australia a 3-2 victory.

At the start of Sunday's opening match, Philippoussis came onto the court amid a cauldron of noise from the crowd of 10,000. But it was Pioline who began uneasily, double faulting on break point in the first game.

The first set ended with Pioline double faulting again on Philippoussis' first set point.

Philippoussis missed the chance to take the second set, when Pioline was serving at 4-5. Pioline took the set, and the French crowd had hoped that would be a turning point.

But after a long talk from Australian captain John Newcombe, Philippoussis came out firing in the third set, surging to a 5-0 lead in just 24 minutes.

In the fourth set, the Aussie ripped four winners past Pioline, including one blistering forehand on the line that left the Frenchman holding his head.

"That was the best match Mark has played with his head in his life," Newcombe said. "He didn't have highs and lows, just highs."