Cup looks tough as Swede wins in Oz

Great Britain's bid for Davis Cup World Group victory over Sweden will be even tougher following Thomas Johansson's victory in the Australian Open men's singles final in Melbourne yesterday.

Johansson, who beat Russia's Marat Safin 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 in the final, will spearhead Sweden's challenge in the tie at Birmingham on 8-10 February.

Johansson beat fellow Swede Jonas Bjorkman on the way to the title and they will be the singles players against a British team led by Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski.

After Henman beat Rusedski in the third round of the Australian Open, he fell to Bjorkman and that leaves the Swedish team holding all the psychological cards.

Meanwhile, Rusedski meets Francisco Clavet in the first round of the Milan tournament today.