Injury list overshadows Bates milestone

No sooner had Jeremy Bates broken Pat Cash in the opening set en route to his first ever win against the former Wimbledon champion, 6-3, 6-2, than three spectators at the Honda Challenge raised their voices. "Come on, Pat!" shouted one. "Come on, Jeremy!" cried another. "Come on, Tim!" urged a third, his mind on weightier tennis matters.

Bates, Britain's Davis Cup coach and the manager of men's national training at the Lawn Tennis Association, knows only too well that injuries are mounting and time is running out before the first round World Group tie against Australia in Sydney in February.

The rehabilitation of Tim Henman's right shoulder appears to be the most optimistic part of the equation. Greg Rusedski does not intend rushing back into action before he is sure his left foot can take the strain, and the latest blow came yesterday with news that Martin Lee, the British No 3, has undergone surgery to his left knee and is not expected to play for a minimum of three months.

Bates was asked if he thought it was too soon for Alex Bogdanovic, the 18-year-old national champion, to be thrust into the team. "I don't think so," he said. "It's not my decision, but you have to start sometime. That's how I grew up, being around John [Lloyd] and Buster [Mottram]. I think Alex has got the quality to play."

Bogdanovic, a left-hander from Kilburn via Belgrade whose ATP ranking has risen from 722 to 460 this year, is a member of the British team who have reached the semi- finals of the European Team Championship in Montecatini, Italy. Roger Taylor, the Davis Cup captain, put his faith in the youngest team sent out for the European Championship, and today Bogdanovic and two Sheffield players, David Sherwood, 22, and Jonny Marray, 21, are due to meet Poland for a place in tomorrow's final.

Tennis Australia confirmed last night that the Davis Cup tie would be played on a clay court at the Olympic Tennis Stadium in Homebush, a decision based more on the theory that British players dread the sport's slowest surface rather than Australia's expertise on the red stuff. The Australians are hoping that Mark Philippoussis, their hero against France on clay in Nice in the 1999 final, will be fit to play singles as No 2 to Lleyton Hewitt, the Wimbledon champion and world No 1.

Bates said he was optimistic that Henman would be ready to play in the Australian Open next before moving on to Sydney for the Davis Cup tie. Bates said: "Tim wants to be 100 per cent fit before he commits. We saw against Thailand how keen he is to play for his country. Tim and Greg are the backbone of the team." He added: "I haven't heard from Greg, I know Roger is trying to get in touch with him. I think Greg is one of those guys who gets back in 100 per cent shape before he comes back."

The 40-year-old Bates, who only plays on the Delta Tour of Champions when it comes to London, has had injury problems on his own. He was on crutches when Britain beat Thailand in Birmingham in September, having torn a medial ligament stepping off a ladder while cutting down a creeper.

Although he practised hard prior to the Honda Challenge – often with Cash – he was not prepared for the drubbing he received from the Czech Petr Korda in his opening round robin match on Wednesday. "I felt as if he was playing a different sport than me," he said.

Needing to overcome the Australian yesterday to stay in contention, Bates' strokes flowed more easily. Not only that, but Bates showed great determination in running down Cash's shots. Bates produced the best moment to break for 5-2 in the second set, hitting a forehand winner down the line.

John McEnroe, defeated by Henri Leconte on Wednesday night, was in sweeter mood and mode last night defeating Mikael Pernfors, of Sweden, 6-1, 6-0 in 42 minutes. Michael Stich, the 1991 Wimbledon champion, also recovered after losing to Pernfors. Yesterday Stich defeated Leconte, of France, 10-2 in a champions tie-break after levelling the match 5-7, 6-2.