Australia calls for Davis Cup rule change

Australia wants Davis Cup finalists to be awarded first round byes for the following season after they crashed to an early exit at the hands of Argentina.

Australia, playing without their big-name stars Lleyton Hewitt, Patrick Rafter and Mark Philippoussis, slumped to a 5-0 first-round loss in Buenos Aires just 10 weeks after hosting France in the 2001 final.

The Australians were top seeds for 2002 after reaching the past three finals but said they believe the current format unfairly punishes the finalists.

France and Australia met in last year's Davis Cup final in December but none of the other 14 countries in this year's World Group played again after September.

"I believe that the two finalists should have a bye," Australia's non-playing captain John Fitzgerald told reporters after his team's loss in Argentina.

"It's the greatest team competition in tennis, but we want all the best players playing it too."

Australia became the third finalists in the last three years to lose in the first round.

France lost in the first round in 2000 after hosting Australia in the 1999 final and Spain bowed out in the first round last year after beating the Aussies in the 2000 final.

"It's a shame that those nations who are at the top of the Davis Cup currently are out of the competition so early, particularly after a final," Fitzgerald said.

Australia's early exit means they will have to play off against as yet unknown opponent in September to remain in the World Group next year.

That will be the only tie they will play this year while this year's two finalists will play another three rounds, including the final in December, before lining up again with everyone else next February.

Australian doubles specialist Todd Woodbridge, a veteran of 11 seasons in Davis Cup, said he also thought the system should be changed.

"It'll happen year after year until something's done about the competition and making it a lighter thing for players to fulfil," Woodbridge said.

"That's my personal opinion and I think the opinion of most of the players."