Philippoussis left out of Australia team

Mark Philippoussis has been left out of Australia's side for next month's Davis Cup tie with Austria.

Non-playing captain John Fitzgerald said Lleyton Hewitt, Wayne Arthurs, Todd Woodbridge and Scott Draper would be in the team.

Hewitt, the world number two, and Arthurs will play in the singles while Arthurs and Woodbridge feature in the doubles.

Philippoussis occupied the starring role in Australia's Davis Cup wins in 1999 and 2003 but has not played since he tore an adductor muscle during last month's Hopman Cup in Perth.

The former Wimbledon and US Open runner-up has slumped to 199th in the world rankings and, although he plans to make a comeback in Arizona this week, Fitzgerald said he and coach Wally Masur did not want to rush him.

"With Mark Philippoussis having been out with injury since early January, Wally and I felt that at this point the priority for him was that he focused on getting his body and his fitness right so he'd be ready for our next tie," Fitzgerald said.

"We've decided to stick with the core of the team that won the trophy for Australia on this surface in 2003 and add Scott Draper into the mix as a further option."

The first-round tie with Austria will be played on grass at the Sydney international tennis centre from March 4-6.