Becker has to pull out of Dubai

Tennis

Boris Becker, the Australian Open champion, yesterday withdrew from the Dubai Open because of injury. The German pulled out of the event, due to start today, after failing to shrug off inflamed leg ligaments which forced him to miss Germany's Davis Cup match against Switzerland this weekend.

"We are really disappointed Becker couldn't make it here. He tried very hard to pass a fitness test, but unfortunately couldn't," the tournament director, Jeff Chapman, said.

Thomas Enqvist, the Swedish player, is now the tournament's second seed in place of Becker. The Austrian Thomas Muster, the world No 1, is the top seed.

India beat the Netherlands 3-2 in the first round of their World Group match in Jaipur after Jacco Eltingh twisted a knee and was forced to concede the final, deciding rubber. Eltingh suffered his injury during the first set of the second reverse singles against Mahesh Bhupathi.

Davis Cup results,

Sporting Digest, page 19