Russia hails a new hero after 20-year-old Mikhail Youzhny (pictured) stages an astonishing comeback to win his country their first ever Davis Cup. Youzhny, a late substitute in the deciding singles, beats Paul-Henri Mathieu 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 in a showdown between two of the most inexperienced players to feature in the title-match.
Youzhny, a ballboy the last time his country appeared in a final in 1995, is brought in by Russian coach Shamil Tarpischev to replace former world number one Yevgeny Kafelnikov in a gamble which proves a masterstroke.
Not since 1964 have a team come back from 2-1 down in a final to win the title and Youzhny is the first to come from two sets down in the final singles to win the Davis Cup. 'Now we have a new hero,' says Kafelnikov as he bounces Youzhny in the air.
The Russian regains his nerve after two dreadful sets to claw his way back into the match, dousing Mathieu's fire and the passion of the Parisian crowd. 'When I was two sets down I decided to carry on playing my game and see what happened,' says Youzhny.
As the Russian team swarms on to the claycourt to embrace Youzhny after Mathieu hits a return of service wide, former president Boris Yeltsin climbs over a courtside barrier to bearhug anyone Russian he meets en route to his young compatriot.
Tarpischev does not believe Kafelnikov, who was thrashed in the opening singles and beaten with Marat Safin in the doubles, is in the right physical or mental state of mind for the decider.
'Yevgeny has done so much for Russian tennis, we deserved this title,' says Safin, who wins both his singles in the final. 'I cannot describe what I'm feeling right now. It's just something that is so great. It's the best - better than sex, you can say that,' he laughs.