CBS SportsLine wire reports
Sept. 28, 1998

SYDNEY, Australia -- Australia's Davis Cup captain John Newcombe is ready to end a rift with Mark Philippoussis and welcome him back to the team.

Newcombe said he would send a fax to U.S. Open finalist Philippoussis this week, seeking to have the matter resolved by the start of the Australian summer circuit in January.

Newcombe was speaking after Australia completed a 5-0 win over Uzbekistan in a world group qualifying tie in Townsville, Queensland, on Sunday.

PHILIPPOUSSIS MISSED THE TIE after accusing Australian coach Tony Roche of showing bias towards Pat Rafter by sitting with Rafter's entourage during the U.S. Open final contested by the two Australian players.

Relations have been strained since Philippoussis chose not to take part in last April's Davis Cup tie against Zimbabwe, which Australia lost.

"I'm going to contact Mark again and see if we can't get it settled by January and I can't do much more than that," Newcombe said.

"If someone wants to come to the table and talk, the door's open. The boys (Davis Cup team) have all got together amongst themselves this week and they're happy for Mark to come back as long as he's part of the team.

"For four years I was very close to Mark and this last nine months, I mean, that closeness is gone, and I have no problem about bringing it back because I have no ax to grind with Mark."

TENNIS AUSTRALIA PRESIDENT Geoff Pollard said: "The main thing now is to move on and continue the success of Mark, Pat and other Australian players as witnessed at the U.S. Open."

Jason Stoltenberg, who filled the second singles spot behind Rafter against Uzbekistan, agreed.

"I really don't know what Mark's feeling. All I know is on behalf of the players we all want him back," Stoltenberg, players' spokesman in the Davis Cup team, said.

"We'd love to see him back in the team and there won't be any hard feelings if Mark is willing to come and put the work in that we're putting in and wants to do it as much as we do. Then we'll be a happy team and a much stronger team."

Philippoussis last played in the Davis Cup in a semifinal loss to the U.S. a year ago.

His manager, John McCurdy, said on Monday: "I know he'd like to play for his country and obviously things have to be resolved.

"There's been too much speculation about the dispute and too much attention has been paid to Mark's position in the team at the last two Cup ties.