Australia go 2-1 up in Davis Cup tie

Three years after being kicked out of the most exclusive club, Australia's tennis
players are knocking on the door again after clinching their crucial Davis Cup
doubles clash against Belgium in Cairns on Saturday.
Australia's most successful Davis Cup player Lleyton Hewitt maintained his Midas
touch, combining with Paul Hanley to thrash Olivier Rochus and Ruben Bemelmans 6-1
6-2 6-4.
The home team has a 2-1 lead in their World Group playoff ahead of Sunday's reverse
singles.
The 28-time Cup champions are desperate to break back into the elite World Group for
the first time since 2007.
World No.36 Hewitt registered his 44th win (singles and doubles) on Saturday, giving
him the overall record in victories by an Australian Davis Cup player ahead of
Adrian Quist.
But Hewitt will need to extend his record further on Sunday to get Australia back
into the World Group, which boasts the top 16 countries.
He can kill off the tie in the opening reverse singles clash with Belgian No.1 Rochus.
And there will be no shortage of motivation as Belgium sensationally knocked
Australia out of the World Group three years ago.
Rochus was a key member of that giant-killing Belgian team, and the world No.79 will
relish a chance to play the villain again at Cairns International Tennis Centre.
If Hewitt falls, it will come down to either world No.150 Carsten Ball - who lost
his singles clash with Rochus in straight sets on Friday - or No.126 Peter Luczak to
seal the deal in what would be a tense decider.
World No.191 Bemelmans may have to step up in the reverse singles after again
filling in for Steve Darcis (shoulder) in Saturday's doubles.
Rochus and Bemelmans had never played doubles together - and it showed against a
ruthless Hewitt and Hanley on Saturday.
Australia's only frustration came when rain delays postponed their quick kill.
There was a brief break early in the first set due to the weather but the heavens
really opened at the start of the third, forcing the players off the court.
The match was only 78 minutes old when the players headed for cover - but Australia
had already won the first two sets and levelled it at 1-1 in the third.
When the sun - and the players - came out, world No.30 ranked doubles player Hanley
showed his class to help complete the straight sets win.