Davis Cup win for Belgium

Belgium secured a place in the Davis Cup world group, winning both the reverse singles in the play-off against Australia, the same opponents they knocked out of the elite league in 2007.

For the second time in the tie, which spilled into its fourth day because of heavy rain on Sunday, Oliver Rochus brought Belgium level when he downed Peter Luczak 7-6, 6-4, 6-7, 7-6 at the Cairns International Tennis Centre in Melbourne.

In the decider, Steve Darcis beat Carsten Ball 7-6, 6-3, 6-4 to spoil Lleyton Hewitt's celebration after the former world No 1 had emerged as Australia's most successful player in the competition's history, sharing the distinction with Adrian Quist. Hewitt sustained a wrist injury in the process that ruled him out of the reverse singles.