France win Davis Cup doubles

France now lead 2-1 against Australia

Davis Cup doubles:
France beat Australia 2-6 6-3 7-6 (7-5) 6-1

John Fitzgerald's decision to change his doubles team at the 11th hour has backfired as Australia lost the third rubber of the Davis Cup final to France.

The Australian coach opted for Pat Rafter and Lleyton Hewitt instead of Todd Woodbridge and Wayne Arthurs.

But after seeing his men take the first set, they were swept aside by Fabrice Santoro and Cedric Pioline, losing in four sets.

The result left France in the driving seat to secure their ninth Davis Cup title, needing to win just one of Sunday's two reverse singles matches.

The outcome of the doubles rubber has always been pivotal in Davis Cup finals with the winner taking the title in each of the last 23 years.

Quick start

Santoro was the most influential of the four players on court in Melbourne and had to carry his partner for large passages of the match.

Pioline started by dropping the opening service game of the match to hand the Australian duo the early initiative.

When Pioline lost his second service game it looked as if Fitzgerald's prayers were going to be answered - a quick victory ahead of the deciding final day rubbers.

Rafter and Hewitt were dominant, the former poaching at the net whilst the later was imperious on the baseline.

But after French coach Guy Forget gave his pair, and Pioline inpartiucular, a fierce pep talk at the change of ends between sets, the game turned on its head.

French fare

Rafter dropped the first set of the second set.

Despite the best efforts of the Australians, buoyed by a partisan home crowd, they were unable to find a break and a way back into the set.

Pioline followed Santoro's lead and the French levelled, nullifying Rafter's efforts at the net and finding winners around the court.

In the third Pioline twice held to love, but in the biggest game of the set he faced two break points for the set.

Hewitt, netted the second, and in the ensuing tie-break, leading 3-1, he again erred.

A double fault halted Australia's momentum and gave France a glimpse of the set.

Santoro and Pioline needed no second invitation and after winning 7-5 they breezed through the fourth set.

Their dominance was as great as Australia's in the opening set and Pioline closed out the set, and the match, to highlight the change in fortunes.