Team must come first, says Woodbridge

Australia's Todd Woodbridge has told Davis Cup captain John Fitzgerald that the good of the team must be put before individual egos -- and that includes his own.

Australia face Sweden in a Davis Cup semifinal in Sydney next week. Fitzgerald has named Woodbridge along with U.S. Open champion Lleyton Hewitt, Pat Rafter and Wayne Arthurs in the four-man squad.

Woodbridge, one half of the illustrious but now-retired 'Woodies' doubles team with Mark Woodforde, said: "I'll be going down to Sydney for our World Group semifinal whether I get to play or not."

Rafter and Hewitt played the doubles in the quarter-finals against Brazil and could do so again.

"Obviously there is a chance I won't play," added Woodbridge, who has just been appointed president of the ATP Players' Council.

"There's also a chance I will play with Wayne Arthurs and there's a chance I will play with Lleyton.

IN SHAPE

"I think it will depend solely on the length of singles matches Pat and Lleyton have on the opening day -- if their bodies are in shape, all that sort of stuff -- whether I play or not.

"I don't take it in a bad way. It's because Pat and I play the same side. The combination hasn't been found that really gels perfectly yet."

But he added that he would do all he could to persuade Rafter to keep playing Davis Cup after the Queenslander has taken a few months off next year.

Woodbridge also talked about the decision to abandon a specially constructed grass court at the Homebush Olympic site because of concerns it would wear out during the tie.

Matches will instead be played on a Rebound Ace hardcourt, which will suit the Swedes.

"It's more of a level playing field now," said Woodbridge. "Obviously, playing with Jonas Bjorkman all year, I have a little bit of inside knowledge of how their team is and the level of their players' confidence.

"I know they were not real confident about grass. They got an extremely big lift once we were back on the hardcourt, Rebound Ace.

"It really brought Thomas Enqvist back into the team. Enqvist was only 50:50 if he was going to Australia when it was grass.

"Now it's different. When you bring a player of his quality back in, then it raises their chances."