CASABLANCA, Morocco, 23 September 2003 — Hicham Arazi booked Morocco a place in next year’s Davis Cup World Group after he shunted aside Britain’s Greg Rusedski 5-7, 7-5, 7-6, 7-6 in the deciding rubber of the playoff tie yesterday.

With the match suspended on Sunday because of fading light after Arazi had taken the third set, the Moroccan proved his claycourt mastery to give his country a 3-2 win and relegate Britain into the zonal competition in 2004. The victory promoted Morocco to the World Group for only the third time.

“It was my best Davis Cup match and I was up against a very strong opponent,” said a jubilant Arazi.

In Calgary, Canada, youngster Frank Dancevic lifted Canada into the elite Davis Cup World Group Sunday with a 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (9-7) win over Brazils Flavio Saretta in the deciding match.

Earlier Sunday, Gustavo Kuerten kept Brazil alive in the tie by beating Canada’s Simon Larose 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 7-6 (12-10), knotting the score at 2-2.

Roddick Fined for Missing

Thailand Open

In Bangkok, US Open champion Andy Roddick was handed a $40,000 fine by the ATP after he withdrew from the first Thailand Open yesterday with a right hamstring injury, the governing body of men’s tennis said.

The American world number two picked up the injury during his surprise Davis Cup defeat by Slovakia’s Dominik Hrbaty on Friday and aggravated it during his decisive victory over Karol Beck on Sunday.

Thai organizers became suspicious that he might not play when they were unable to obtain details of the American’s expected arrival. A fax announcing his withdrawal was not received until yesterday morning.

In play on the opening day, sixth seed Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia rallied to beat Frenchman Cyril Saulnier 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 while Wimbledon quarterfinalist Alexander Popp of Germany dismissed Werner Eschauer of Austria 7-5, 6-3.

Mario Ancic of Croatia labored to overcome Swiss qualifier Marco Chiudinelli 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.

Sweden’s Norman

Breaks Losing Streak

In Shanghai, China, Magnus Norman won a match for the first time since late July, beating Chinese wild card Zhu Benqiang 6-3, 6-4 yesterday in the first round of the Heineken Open.

The seventh-seeded Swede won this event in 1999 and 2000 and did not play in 2001 because of a hip operation. There was no tournament last year. Norman had lost in the first round at 10 of his previous 11 tournaments. However, he extended his record in Shanghai to 11-0.