British tennis players

The draw for next year's Davis cup was made earlier this week and Great Britain's Davis Cup team have been been given a bye in the first round of next year's Euro-African Zone group one.

John Lloyd's men will return to action at home to Holland in the second phase of the 2007 competition on April 6-8.

British player James Auckland has had two exciting rounds so far in the ATP Kingfisher Airlines Tennis Open, Mumbai:

He beat German Frank Moser in the first round, and then beat world ranked 74, Wesley Moodie (Rsa), 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-5) in the second round.

Tim Henman has sensationally just beaten Andy Murray in todays first round match in the ATP Thailand Open, in Bangkok. He won in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2.

Andy Murray may well have been tired after his back to back three Davis cup matches in Odessa this weekend, which necessitated a later than planned arrival in Thailand. Henman had declined to participate in the Davis cup.

It is possible that when Britain's Davis Cup captain, John Lloyd, makes his expected phone call to Tim Henman and tries to talk him into coming out of his two-year retirement from Davis Cup, his words might not fall on deaf ears.

Davis Cup British team news:

3rd rubber:
Andy Murray and Jamie Delgado lost to Ukraine in the doubles in the Davis Cup - missing the chance to seal Britain's Euro-African Zone survival early. Delgado was a late replacement for Greg Rusedski, after Captain John Lloyd decided to rest Rusedski following his almost 4 hour long match the previous day. Orest Tereshchuk(Ukr)& Sergiy Stakhovsky(Ukr) bt Andrew Murray(Gbr)& Jamie Delgado(Gbr) 6-3 6-3 6-3

The long awaited Davis Cup tie between Great Britain and Ukraine in Odessa has started today.

Great Britain are currently in the second tier of the Davis Cup competition – Group I. Above them is the top tier – the World Group – and below them are Group II, Group III and Group IV.

This week sees the first time that Andy Murray will be working with his new coach Brad Gilbert, and Gilbert is determined that change is afoot.

"If Andy Murray isn't an early-morning person, that's going to change," said Gilbert.

After some intense negotiations and speculations. It appears that Brad Gilbert has agreed to coach Andy Murray and the LTA (Lawn tennis Association) will be footing the estimated £500.000 bill for his services.