Henman and Rusedski beaten

GREAT BRITAIN’S Davis Cup captain Roger Taylor said his side have a mountain to climb after losing the first two rubbers to Morocco in Casablanca yesterday.

British number one Tim Henman suffered from a neck problem as he was beaten 6-4 6-4 7-6 by Hicham Arazi, while Greg Rusedski went down in five sets to Younes El Aynaoui.

The home side need now only win the doubles today to dump Britain out of the world group.

Taylor said: "We are in a difficult position, two matches down but we know how good these guys are."

On who would team-up for the doubles, Taylor said: "We don't have to make a decision until one hour before the doubles," he said.

Rusedski said he just did not have enough in reserve after fighting back to two sets all and having won the first set.

However, the British number two was less than impressed with El Aynaoui's behaviour when the Moroccan became involved with a discussion over the state of the court, which had not been watered after the fourth set.

Henman had earlier lost the vital opening rubber to Arazi and apart from a brief spell in the third set, never looked comfortable on court.

"Unfortunately, I have had a problem with my neck since Wednesday. I thought when I got into the game the adrenaline would start to flow, but the tension made it worse," he said.

There is a risk the problem could keep him out of tomorrow's doubles and Henman sounded far from positive.