Youzhny elated by Cup win

When Mikhail Youzhny finds a quiet moment away from the adulation of the Russian people, from Vladimir Putin and Boris Yeltsin down, he may reflect on the aptness of his unique Davis Cup final triumph in Paris.

On Sunday morning, the little-known 20-year-old Muscovite was called to replace the ailing Yevgeny Kafelnikov in a seemingly lost cause. On Sunday night Youzhny became the only player to win a Davis Cup final from two sets down in a fifth rubber, beating Paul-Henri Mathieu, an equally young Frenchman competing in his first tie, 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-4.

When Russia lost the second of their two previous finals, to a Pete Sampras-inspired United States in 1995, Youzhny was a ball boy. Three months ago, after Kafelnikov and Marat Safin had secured Russia's place in the final with victory over Argentina, Youzhny lost a dead fifth rubber. Two days later his father died.

With Russia 2-1 down after Saturday's doubles, Safin gave Youzhny his shot at glory by levelling the final, beating Sebastien Grosjean, 13-11, in a third set tie-break.

Out-played by Mathieu for two sets, Youzhny managed to rid his game of tension, while his opponent seemed to lose self-belief. "I felt no emotions at all," Youzhny said afterwards. "I simply could not understand what was happening. And then suddenly I felt pure happiness."