28th March, 1999

SCUD IS OUR TRUMP CARD by Pat Rafter

If there is one player whom brothers Byron and Wayne Black have difficulty with, it is Mark Philippoussis.

For that reason, everybody in the Australian team is happy to have Scud back for the first-round tie against Zimbabwe in Harare this week.

He has played the Black brothers seven times and has not lost to either.  On that basis, he is obviously a huge asset for us.

But we have to remember this is Davis Cup, and that means logic often goes out the window. At this level, it is not as though you are playing singles just for yourself. You are out there for your country, and under a different type of pressure.

I would have liked to have seen Mark in Harare earlier than tomorrow.  But he is clearly confident given his form this year and his good record against the Black brothers.

My results so far this year mean I go into the tie more hopeful than expectant. My form has been ordinary, but I think I can gain a lot of confidence if we win against Zimbabwe.

Having said that, I think there is no reason why Lleyton Hewitt could not play singles. I want to play singles and I think I can do well if selected. But it is nice to have somebody like Lleyton up your sleeve.

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