Youznhy clinches Russian victory with epic fightback

Mikhail Youzhny, a skinny, insignificant-looking player dressed in grey, became the hero of Russia and a historic figure in the sport last night before disappearing in a bear hug from Boris Yeltsin, who clambered over the presidential box and invaded the court.

No man in tennis had ever before come back from two sets down to win the fifth set of a Davis Cup final, and only Arnaud Boetsch, of France, had ever before won a "live" fifth rubber in a final. That was in Malmo in 1996, when France beat Sweden, 3-2, in what was regarded as the most thrilling of all Davis Cup finals. Until yesterday.

What Youzhny, a 20-year-old Muscovite, achieved in overcoming Paul-Henri Mathieu, 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-4, to take the silver punch bowl to Russia for the first time was astonishing. No wonder the former president of his country shrugged off attempts by the International Tennis Federation president, Francisco Ricci Bitti, to restrain him and gave a passable imitation of Goran Ivanisevic and Pat Cash in triumphant mode at Wimbledon.

Yeltsin, to be fair, had watched every ball hit during the five matches over three days on the indoor clay court at the Palais Omnisport de Bercy, often raising his arms to lead the cheering, frequently perspiring as Russia's prospects of glory showed signs of diminishing.

Youzhny's opportunity to make a name for himself came from two sources: Marat Safin, who kept the tie alive yesterday by defeating Sebastien Grosjean in straight sets, and Yevgeny Kafelnikov, who was withdrawn from the concluding rubber because his physical condition had deteriorated as quickly as his form (he is due to have an operation on a varicose vein in Zurich today)

So the final boiled down to a duel of tiros: Youzhny, who had not previously won a "live" match in the competition, and the 20-year-old Mathieu, from Strasbourg, who was making his Davis Cup debut and had lost in four sets to Safin in the opening match on Friday.

Kafelnikov, who said he wanted to retire in possession of the trophy, could only watch from the players' box as the destiny of the Davis Cup was placed in Youzhny's hands. After two sets it seemed that the task was far too big for him. Although he had defeated Mathieu over the best of three sets in their only previous match, played on clay in Poland earlier this year, the Frenchman seemed to settle more comfortably into his stride yesterday in front of 15,000 thoroughly roused spectators.

During the first two sets, Youzhny looked nervous and out of place, but after losing those sets he seemed to relax and play with more rhythm, almost as if the burden of expectation had been lifted from him. As Youzhny's shots began to hit the target in the third set, the nerves seemed to shift to Mathieu. After the players had exchanged breaks of serve, Youzhny cracked Mathieu for 4-2 and was back in the match.

The fourth set followed a similar pattern, except that Youzhny was the one broken for 2-4. But he rescued the situation in the next game and broke for 6-5 before levelling the match. In the fifth set, Mathieu lost his serve in the third game, recovered to 3-3, but was then out-rallied as Youzhny made the decisive break for 4-3. When the final ended, after four hours and 26 minutes, Youzhny's image in Russia was transformed into superstar status.

But for Safin, that would not have been possible. The 22-year-old from Moscow quelled Mathieu in four sets in the opening match on Friday and then almost nudged his team into a 2-1 lead on Saturday. His serve kept Kafelnikov going until his doubles partner was broken for 2-2 in the fourth set and a two sets and 2-0 lead against Fabrice Santoro and Nicolas Escude evaporated. Safin was broken for 2-4 and lost his serve again at the start of the fifth set as the Frenchmen prevailed, 6-3, 3-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4.

On Saturday night it was decided that Youzhny would substitute for Kafelnikov in the concluding match. Safin knew that the odds were lengthening against Russia winning the trophy. Before his time in the team they had lost successive finals in Moscow, in 1994 and 1995, with Kafelnikov the fulcrum of the side.

But Safin revelled in yesterday's challenge to keep the tie alive. He defeated Grosjean, 6-3, 6-2, 7-6, in what might be termed a marathon three-setter. The match lasted three hours and seven minutes, 95 minutes being devoted to the third set.

Safin played so splendidly in the opening two sets, frustrating Grosjean with his ability to serve with power and accuracy, hit thunderous ground strokes, and finish points at the net when the opportunity arose, that the third set seemed a formality. Instead we were treated to a contest within a contest: Grosjean's streak of determination pitted against Safin's tendency towards profligacy.

Fatigue began to take a toll on Safin's speed of thought and movement, and his concentration wavered enough for his opponent to consolidate his defensive game and counter-attack to greater purpose.

The shoot-out was one of the highlights of the tie. Safin saved three set points, at 5-6, 6-7 and 7-8, before creating his first match point at 9-8. Grosjean salvaged it with a backhand volley, and had a fourth set point at 10-9. Safin saved it with a smash. Grosjean saved a second Safin second match point, at 10-11, with a forehand drive, but netted when attempting to return a second serve on the third match point, at 11-12. Yeltsin began to rub his hands in anticipation. "Youzhny has a very strong character, he is a fighter," said Yeltsin proudly. "Now we have a new hero," added Kafelnikov as he bounced Youzhny in the air with joy.

DAVIS CUP Final (Paris): Russia bt France 3-2. Results (French names first): Yesterday's singles: S Grosjean lost to M Safin 3-6 2-6 6-7; P-H Mathieu lost to M Youzhny 6-3 6-2 3-6 5-7 4-6. Saturday's doubles: N Escude and F Santoro bt Y Kafelnikov and M Safin 6-3 3-6 5-7 6-3 6-4. Friday's singles: P-H Mathieu lost to M Safin 4-6 6-3 1-6 4-6; S Grosjean bt Y Kafelnikov 7-6 6-3 6-0.