Parmar finds form to raise Davis Cup hopes

The unheralded Arvind Parmar showed there is life in the British Davis Cup team by claiming an unexpected first-round win over Harel Levy yesterday on a rainy afternoon here at the Australian men's hardcourt championships.

The South Australian capital, normally sun-drenched at this time of year, looked more like Wimbledon, with three matches postponed until today. But the weather did not dampen the spirits of Parmar, who fought back from a set down to beat the Israeli 6-7, 6-4, 6-1.

Britain's Davis Cup team has had nothing but bad news in recent days, with both Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski ruling themselves out of the Australian Open with shoulder and foot injuries respectively. Parmar's triumph may have come over a player who finished 65th in the Champions Race last season, but it does give the British Davis Cup captain, Roger Taylor, some hope of an upset against the likes of Lleyton Hewitt and Mark Philippoussis, however faint.

The 24-year-old had to qualify for this tournament and looked set for an early exit as he conceded the first set on a tie-break, but he showed fighting qualities to finish on top.

Parmar also avoided a second-round meeting with the third seed Thomas Enqvist when the Swede crashed out to the Belgian Kristof Vliegen, losing 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 against another player who came through qualifying.