Australia thrash India 5-0 in Davis Cup

Scott Draper and Wayne Arthurs helped Australia complete a 5-0 whitewash over India in their Davis Cup qualifier on Sunday after world number one Lleyton Hewitt was given the day off to play football.

Draper beat Rohan Bopanna 6-3, 7-5 and Arthurs defeated Harsh Mankad 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 after both teams rested their best players for the final day with Australia already assured of victory.

Hewitt, who beat Mankad in Friday's opening singles match then teamed up with Todd Woodbridge in Saturday's doubles victory that gave Australia an unbeatable 3-0 lead, spent his time off playing in an Australian Rules charity match.

The Wimbledon champion watched Sunday's first reverse singles match from court side before leaving the Memorial Drive Tennis Centre to take his part in the football game.

India's top singles player, veteran Leander Paes, also pulled out of Sunday's reverse singles, allowing Bopanna to take his place against Draper.

The Australian sealed victory in less than an hour after the match was shortened to the best-of-three sets, but the lanky Arthurs had a much tougher time against Mankad, needing three sets to beat the 22-year-old Indian.

SECOND TIER

Australia's victory ensured they retain their place in the 16-nation Davis Cup World Group next year while India remains in the second tier.

Australia had reached the final of the last three Davis Cups, winning the title in 1999, but were relegated to the playoffs with India after losing to Argentina in the first round this year.

Australia's non-playing captain John Fitzgerald said his team would be back to their best next year after former U.S. Open finalist Mark Philippoussis announced he would make himself available.

"We're going to move on and get back into that World Group and do some damage next year," Fitzgerald said.

"Mark Philippoussis intends to put his hand up and he's made that clear to me and it can only help strengthen us towards a common goal."