Parmar retains Cup ambitions despite defeat

Arvind Parmar still hopes to win a place in Britain's team for next month's Davis Cup tie against Australia despite losing in straight sets to the Belgian Kristof Vliegen in the second round of the Australian men's hardcourt championships here yesterday.

The 24-year-old gained an unexpected first-round victory over Harel Levy on Tuesday, which could be enough to secure his inclusion by coach Roger Taylor.

England's injury-hit team are already without the services of No 2 Greg Rusedski and doubts remain over the fitness of both Tim Henman and the No 3 Martin Lee. Henman remains hopeful he will be fit for the tie, despite withdrawing from the forthcoming Australian Open.

"I didn't play well at all today," admitted Parmar. "I got off to a bad start. I was not really moving my feet and was sluggish. But I think I helped my chances of getting selected for the team. It is Roger's decision. He is going to pick the team he can and, hopefully, I will be in it.

"We spoke before I left for Australia and Roger said it was very open still as, at that point, he did not know whether he had Greg and Tim. He knows where he now stands with Greg. He said the team hadn't picked itself and the door was still open."

Apart from Parmar, other possibles for the team include Miles Maclagan, Alex Bogdanovic and Jamie Delgado.

Maclagan partnered Henman to a doubles victory over Thailand in September, but Parmar's baseline game may also make him suited to the clay-court encounter against Australia's world No 1 Lleyton Hewitt and Mark Philippoussis, although fitness doubts hang over the latter.

The Australian Open offers Parmar his last chance to impress. "My goal is not getting selected for the Davis Cup team, it is to keep winning my matches and, obviously, the Davis Cup will come from that," he said. "You can put added pressure on yourself worrying about whether you are going to be in the team and that doesn't do anyone any good. Everyone loves to play for their country, but the way I can do that is keep winning.

"I really don't know how Roger will pick the team, whether he wants experience or wants players going into the Davis Cup in good form. If the Davis Cup comes, I will really be proud to represent my country. I am sure Roger has in his mind a team, one that includes Tim and one that does not. Hopefully, I can do well in the Australian Open."