Australia will play Spain in this year's Davis Cup final.
The Aussies reached their fourth
final in five years after Lleyton Hewitt came from two sets down to
win his singles match with Roger Federer, and give his country an unassailable
3-1 lead in the semi-final with Switzerland.
And Spain surived a superb fightback from Argentina, with Carlos Moya winning the decisive fifth and final rubber against Gaston Gaudio.
In Melbourne, Federer knew nothing short of victory would be enough to keep his country in
the competition, and came flying out the blocks to take the opening set 5-7,
before doubling that lead 2-6 in the next.
But the match turned on a tense tie-break in the third, which the former world
number one took 7-4.
He then levelled the rubber 7-5 in the fourth, before cruising past a
demoralised Federer 6-1 in the decider.
All had appeared lost for the Australian number one as Federer served for the match holding a 5-3 lead in the third set.
But just when eyes were turning towards the final reverse singles between Mark
Philippoussis and Michel Kratochvil, Hewitt's famed tenacity kicked in.
He broke back, forced a tie break and in doing so shattered the control
Federer had imparted on the tie.
And from two sets down Hewitt stunned the Wimbledon champion with an
electrifying display of aggressive tennis.
After a difficult year, Hewitt described the victory as the finest moment in
his career.
"It beats the hell out of getting the US Open or Wimbledon," he said.
"It's an incredible feeling. I dreamt of playing in these matches."
In Malaga, where Argentina trailed 2-0 after the first day's play, Agustin Calleri pulled off a shock win over world number one Juan Carlos Ferrero, triumphing in straight sets 6-4 7-5 6-1.
That levelled the tie at 2-2 and left Gaudio up against home hope Moya in the decider.
However, Moya held his nerve and won easily in the end - 6-1 6-4 6-2.
The Aussies will have home advantage in the final which will be a repeat of the 2000 final which Spain won.
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