TENNIS: Knight puts faith in youngsters

John Roberts looks at Great Britain's Davis Cup tennis hopes in Bratislava

Bill Knight has decided to pass the Davis Cup baton to David Lloyd with a flourish of youth, even though a defeat by the Slovak Republic over the next three days here would leave his successor as captain facing a relegation play-off in July for openers.

Tim Henman and Miles Maclagan, both aged 20 and unencumbered by the team's past humiliations, have been selected by Knight to make their singles debuts in the absence of Jeremy Bates, who has retired from the competition, and Mark Petchey, who has shown neither the nerve nor the verve for clay courts.

Maclagan, who has not previously been a member of the squad, was a late addition to the party after displaying encouraging form in an ATP Tour "challenger" tournament in Monte Carlo. Born in Zimbabwe to Scottish parents, he is unusual among British players in that he names clay as his favourite surface.

In the circumstances, that was more relevant than his ranking of No 9 in Britain and No 285 in the world, so Maclagan has been selected to the exclusion of Chris Wilkinson, the British No 3 (ranked 148), who disappointed when picked against Hungary in 1993.

Knight has entrusted Henman with the additional responsibility of partnering the South African-born Neil Broad in tomorrow's doubles, though the captain does have the option of drafting in Danny Sapsford up to an hour before the start should Henman show signs of fatigue.

Henman was a certainty for selection the moment he proved himself match fit again after recovering from breaking an ankle last October. The nation's brightest prospect, he demonstrated admirable skill and temperament when partnering Bates to a doubles victory in an otherwise disastrous tie against Romania on grass in Manchester last July.

That was Knight's initial match as captain, having been persuaded in the short term to fill the courtside seat vacated by Tony Pickard after the acrimony which followed defeat in Portugal a year ago. Knight picked the right players (Bates and Petchey), who performed poorly, and Britain slumped to their lowest point: Group II of the Euro/African Zone.

Another defeat, and Lloyd's first challenge, against either Egypt or Monaco on grass at Eastbourne the week after Wimbledon, will be to avoid Group III, effectively the fourth division (the competition is headed by a 16-strong World Group).

The captain-elect is here, helping with the preparations and taking stock. "The team's the right team, Bill's made the right decision, but to win away is a very tough call," Lloyd said.

"When I played Davis Cup I was lucky, because I knew I wasn't going to play singles. The team picked itself. But when you've got four guys all hungry to play singles, it's a really tough decision.

"Miles is built like a bull, and thinking he might have to play 10 sets on very slow clay courts, his super fitness and his recent form was slightly in his favour. Tim's a very confident lad. He had to play whatever happened. He is definitely the best player we've got at this moment. It's good to have Miles, who's the same sort of age, coming on.

"If you believe you can win in Davis Cup, you can beat anybody. The confidence is different to a day-to-day tournament. If you rise to the occasion in Davis Cup you can beat players way above your standing.

"It just depends on how they perform. No one really knows yet. Tim played a great match last year, under enormous pressure, so he at least got a blooding. It's Miles's first time. He could go to the knock-up, shank three, and not get a ball in, or he could go and hit three in the middle and play like God."

Britain have lost their last five ties, the Slovak Republic have won their first five, albeit against Group III opponents, since starting to compete under a new banner after the country parted from the Czechs.

The Slovakians have also selected a young team, Karol Kucera, 21, and Jan Kroslak, 20, for both singles and doubles. Kucera is the world No 59, and Kroslak, No 125, is ranked 92 places above Henman, his opponent in today's opening rubber.

Miloslav Mecir, the home captain, will be 31 next month, which makes him two years younger than Bates. The 1988 Olympic champion's career was ended by a back injury, otherwise it would seem safe to assume that the Slovak Republic would be moving in higher circles.

Like Lloyd, he can only watch, encourage and hope. "I'm very pleased I came," Lloyd said. "I didn't know if I should have done, because it's very difficult when you know you're taking over later. I didn't want to be a hindrance, I wanted to help. Bill's made it so easy and the team's made it so easy, it's been important to be here. It's been a great team effort, except for the football."

He referred to a kick-about which left one man limping: John Matthews, the team trainer. "We are only the team in the world," Knight observed, "who have a physiotherapist who needs a physiotherapist".

The rain has ceased after two days, and the humour is holding up nicely.

TODAY: Jan Kroslak v Tim Henman; Karol Kucera v Miles Maclagan.

TOMORROW: Kucera and Kroslak v Henman and Neil Broad. Sunday: Kucera v Henman; Kroslak v Maclagan.