Britain's hopes of returning to the Davis Cup World Group have taken a major blow after the shock withdrawal of Greg Rusedski through injury. The British number two suffered an injury to his left heel during his US Open defeat to Pete Sampras and an MRI scan on Saturday confirmed the injury will keep him out of action for at least a fortnight.
The loss Rusedski from the World Group qualifier against Thailand, which begins in Birmingham on Friday, makes Tim Henman's fight for full fitness even more significant. Henman was named in the four-man squad despite a shoulder injury which he also picked up in New York. He hit a ball for the first time this month today but there remain doubts over his ability to complete three rubbers.
Britain captain Roger Taylor has called British number 14 Miles Maclagan into the squad to join Henman, Martin Lee and Arvind Parmar. Rusedski's absence will also force Taylor to use an untested doubles pairing instead of the Rusedski-Henman partnership which remains unbeaten in Davis Cup to date.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
