first-round Davis Cup tie against Zimbabwe after suffering a virus.

The number four-ranked Rafter, a resident of Bermuda, was expected to lead the Australians in the tie against Zimbabwe, starting on Friday. "He picked up a bad virus in Europe five weeks ago and it's flared up again and gone into his muscles,'' Australian captain John Newcombe said yesterday.

Australian doubles star Todd Woodbridge is also trying to beat a virus.

BERMUDA UNDER-14S START FAST TEN Bermuda under-14s start fast Bermuda's under-14 tennis team came up aces in the first round of a top junior tennis tournament in Barbados yesterday.

Jevon Whitter and Jonathan Wardman each won their boys matches to advance to the round of 16 while Danielle Downey and Zarah DeSilva advanced to the round of eight with girls wins.

DeSilva, who plays the top seed today, won by default while Downey beat Jennifer Bear of Barbados 6-3, 6-0. Whitter beat Saron Carter of Barbados 6-4, 6-1 and Wardman trounced Michael Pierson, also of the host country, 6-0, 6-2.

Wardman and Whitter go against the top two seeds today and, like Downey and DeSilva, will likely team up for the start of doubles play today.