Players Pat Rafter, a two-time US Open champion from Australia, and Todd Martin, an Australian Open runner-up from the USA, were facing off at the prestigious Longwood Cricket Club in Massachusetts. Rafter had a surprising rise in his career, going from outside the top 40 to winning two US Open titles in 1997 and 1998. Martin, known for his serve-and-volley game, had reached the top 10 in 1994 and claimed eight titles on the tour.
The Davis Cup quarter-final match between the USA and Australia saw controversy sparked by Pete Sampras refusing to play singles, leaving Todd Martin to face Pat Rafter. Despite Martin initially leading two sets to love, Rafter staged a comeback to win in five sets. Opinions were divided on Martin’s illness and the captain’s attempt to replace him with Sampras.
In the end, Australia won the Davis Cup title for the 27th time in December 1999, defeating the French team in the final. The rules of the Davis Cup would change in the years to come, allowing more flexibility for captains in selecting players for the Sunday matches.
