Mark Philippoussis, the hero of Australia's Davis Cup final win over Spain two months ago, joined his teammates yesterday as captain John Fitzgerald denied speculation of a split within the squad.

　　Australia opens its 2004 Davis Cup campaign against Sweden in Adelaide on Friday.

　　Fitzgerald retained an unchanged lineup from the last match, including Philippoussis, former No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt, Todd Woodbridge and Wayne Arthurs.

　　Philippoussis, who overcame shoulder injuries in a five-set win over Juan Carlos Ferrero that clinched the Cup in December, was targeted for criticism by his former coach and a current Cup teammate over his fourth-round loss at the Australian Open last week.

　　Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash attributed Philippoussis' defeat against Morocco's Hicham Arazi to distractions in his personal life.

　　Woodbridge, Australia's Davis Cup doubles player, reportedly described Philippoussis as the type of player who was "happy to give 70 percent."

　　Philippoussis, nicknamed "Scud" for his powerful serve, reacted angrily to acerbic criticism from Cash, his former coach, last week.

　　He linked with the team later than expected yesterday afternoon, but said he was concentrating only on the Davis Cup.

　　"This is a Davis Cup tie and just as I did in the other ones I'll give it 110 percent, go out there and win it for myself, the team, the captain, coach and the country and that's what it's all about," he said.

　　Fitzgerald said none of his players were concerned about "anything that angles towards tabloid journalism."

　　"This team is a very solid unit and we're not interested in trying to develop a story that we don't think there's anything in," he said.

　　"We've got a group of guys who enjoy each other's company, a group of guys who are trying to defend a Davis Cup. I think we're prepared."

　　Sweden's captain Mats Wilander - a former player who won the Australian Open, French Open and US Open - said he'd delay selecting his singles players for as long as he could. The draw is scheduled for tomorrow.

　　Jonas Bjorkman, Thomas Enqvist, Robin Soderling and Joachim Johansson are in the Sweden squad. Bjorkman, Enqvist and Johansson were part of the team that lost 0-5 to Australia in the second round of the World Group competition last year at Malmo, Sweden.

　　Hewitt has won two career grand slam titles - most recently Wimbledon in 2002 and the US Open in 2001.

　　Meanwhile, another Aussie Patrick Rafter, who is a former two-time US Open champion, beat Wilander 6-2, 7-6 (1) in an exhibition tennis match in Canada on Monday.

　　It was Rafter's first singles match since the 2001 Davis Cup final loss to France.