Pat Cash out to avenge Davis Cup defeat

Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash opens the defence of his Honda Challenge title against Guy Forget on Wednesday - and the Australian has Davis Cup revenge on his mind.

France, captained by Forget, stunned Australia 3-2 in Melbourne to win the men's tennis team trophy for the ninth time at the weekend and Cash says it is time to restore some national pride.

"The goal for me now is to kick his arse," Cash quipped on Tuesday before the start of the seniors event.

"Serious revenge...that's what it is all about," he smiled.

Forget was not there to answer Cash, invited instead to a reception given by French president Jacques Chirac at the Elysee Palace for the victorious team.

But the Frenchman's former Davis Cup team mate Henri Leconte said he was looking forward to the clash of the veterans.

"Guy will be dead after all the celebrations," Leconte said. "I have spoken to him and everything was so great in Melbourne.

"He really deserved the success because he is one of the guys who can really bring out the best of the players."

The round robin event at the Royal Albert Hall brings together eight former leading professionals.

Cash's group sees the Australian and Forget joined by Mikael Pernfors and three-time Wimbledon champion Boris Becker - playing in London for the first time since bowing out at Wimbledon more than two years ago.

Becker is hoping the magic he feels when playing in the English capital will come to his aid again this year after abortive attempts at a comeback on the senior tour in 2001.

"I have tried to play a few times this year but it hasn't really worked out for me," said the 34-year-old.

"But hopefully I'll be fit enough to survive a few matches here."

Becker is not playing for Grand Slam trophies any more but his entourage is still as large as ever, the German admitted.

"I still need the same number of people travelling with me," he said, "because I am older now and I need them to carry my bags."

The second group sees Leconte alongside John McEnroe, Petr Korda and Briton Jeremy Bates.