Britain slip in tennis rankings
Britain's demise as a World Group Davis Cup nation has seriously affected the country's standing in tennis.
The defeat by Austria at the weekend has seen Britain fall seven places on the International Tennis Federation ladder to 22nd. Tim Henman and Co now trail behind Paraguay, Japan, India and Canada, the country British No2 Greg Rusedski left behind.
That represents the biggest drop in ranking among the top 100 countries after the latest round of Davis Cup matches.
Meanwhile, Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova, a semi-finalist last week in Beijing, was due back on court today to face Switzerland's Emmanuelle Gagliardi in the first round of the Hansol Korea Open in Seoul.
Two seeds have already fallen. Germany's Marlene Weingartner was beaten by Poland's Marta Domachowska 6-1, 6-3 and American Mashona Washington went out 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 against Catalina Castano of Colombia.
