Australia withdraw from Davis Cup tie

Australia, a 28-time Davis Cup winner, could be suspended from the competition for a year for refusing to go to India next month due to security concerns. Tennis Australia had appealed for a change of venue but the ITF turned it down following approval from their consultants. If a team withdraws, the rules state that country will not be eligible to take part the following year, and may be fined. Meanwhile Rafael Nadal beat Nikolay Davydenko 6-3, 6-2 to reach a fifth consecutive Barcelona Open final. Nadal saved three break points in the first set and broke the ninth-ranked Russian twice. Davydenko then suffered from unforced errors and failed to convert three more break points in the fifth game of the second set, as Nadal held on for a 4-1 lead. [e-mail]