Balls controversy on eve of Davis final

The first diplomatic row over this week's Davis Cup final between Spain and Australia has broken out over the type of balls to be used in the event.

Australia raised a protest over the weekend after they noticed the ball agreed on for the final, which starts in Barcelona on Friday, had apparently undergone a slight change.

The visiting team trained last week in Malaga with Penn ATP balls bearing the logo of a player serving.

But as they shifted their preparations to the indoor clay court on which the final will be played, the drawing of the player had disappeared.

"The Australian team complained about the balls, saying they were of a different weight," a Spanish official said on Monday.

"What happened was that Penn sent some balls with a logo and some without but they've told us they're exactly the same.

"The Spanish players aren't bothered in the slightest and, in theory, the game will be played with the ball with the logo that the Australians want.

"The only possible problem is that we don't know if we have enough of them."

The final runs from Friday to Sunday in the 16,000-capacity Palau Sant Jordi.