Hewitt's nerve proves stronger

There's no tennis like Davis Cup tennis. Yesterday's phenomenal match between Lleyton Hewitt and Albert Costa would have been a classic under any circumstances, but that it was played as a contest between Australia and Spain in front of a wildly partisan crowd metamorphosised the encounter into sheer theatre.

The Barcelona crowd hissed, booed, jeered, whistled, laughed and ultimately sighed in disbelief as Hewitt won 3-6, 6-1, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 in over four hours and nine minutes of totally compulsive tennis.

Australia's 1-0 lead in the competition was short-lived, however, as Juan Carlos Ferrero squared the tie in the second match against Pat Rafter, the Australian being forced to retire with a hand injury during the fourth set.

The Spaniards had gambled heavily on Costa, believing he would be the man to down the superbrat. That he failed was no particular fault of the Spanish number three. He gave it absolutely everything.

Australia coach John Newcombe said he expected Rafter to play tomorrow's reverse singles, despite limping out of his match against Ferrero.

Rafter won the first set, but eventually retired when trailing by two sets to one and 3-1 in the fourth after receiving treatment on his hand and leg.

"Rafter will probably play on Sunday," Newcombe said. "He was suffering from cramps in his hand and that could have affected his shoulder so we made the decision to go off."