Aussies kept waiting as Woodbridge is stranded

The Australian Davis Cup player Todd Woodbridge has been stranded in the United States following the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, team captain John Fitzgerald said yesterday.

Woodbridge was selected for the four-man Australian squad to play Sweden in next weekend's World Group semifinals in Sydney but has not been able to leave the US because of the ban on flights.

The doubles specialist was at his home in Florida when the attacks happened. Fitzgerald said Woodbridge was not expected to arrive in Sydney until Tuesday, just three days before the start of the tie.

Australia's newly crowned US Open champion, Lleyton Hewitt, did manage to catch the last flight out of New York to Australia after parading his first Grand Slam trophy through the streets of Manhattan on Monday. He was in the air when the World Trade Centre and Pentagon were struck but did not learn about the tragedy until his own flight landed safely in Sydney. He was given a few days off to refresh himself after his demanding fortnight at Flushing Meadows before returning to the practice court yesterday.

"It's amazing how he can just pick it up straight away," Fitzgerald said. "He gets to a new venue, he just goes out and he seems to hit the ball in the middle. It takes a special player to do that."

Woodbridge and Hewitt will be joined in the Australian team by the twice US Open champion Patrick Rafter and Wayne Arthurs. The Swedes arrived in Sydney on Friday.

"We'll just hit some balls and then we will start practising harder over the next couple of days," the Swedish coach, Anders Jarryd, said. Jarryd and Fitzgerald were doubles partners for many years, pairing up to claim four Grand Slam titles, including two Wimbledon crowns.