How will they fare amongst the elite of world tennis?

Henman overcame a troublesome shoulder injury to beat Paradorn Srichaphan in straight sets and earn the point Britain needed to clinch the tie.

The British number one has been involved in all three British victories, after beating Danai Udomchoke in the first singles rubber and teaming up successfully with Miles Maclagan in the doubles.

The win means that Britain return to elite division of world tennis - an achievement made all the more impressive by the absence of Greg Ruesdski.

Can tam GB build on their success in Birmingham?

This debate is now closed

We should calm down - this was only Thailand we beat. Tim (a lovely lad) is a massive choker... and Greg is looking a bit knackered too. More kids need to play, not just socially, but get trained.

We could do with an Australian-like sports institute (look how disproportionate their success is to the population). Britain needs better coaches and facilities and it needs to touch the cities of the UK and not the leafy suburbs - then we might find our own wunderkind!
Des Bradbury, U.S.A.

The LTA owe a huge debt to Tim Henman since he saved the British team from a national embarrassment single-handedly. To Henman's critics, he showed bottle and they should realise that this is as good as it gets for British tennis, because there is no one coming through of any serious class.

They will be forced to look back at the Tim-Greg era as a good time for British tennis. The LTA have no excuse, and need to look at their coaching and ability to find good players.

Delgado and Lee have both reached world junior number one, yet they haven't progressed. The Sweden match last year showed that you can't win with only two good players against three. Hopefully we'll stay in the world group if Tim and Greg stay fit.
Mark, England

Can people stop debating about how England will revive tennis? Lest we forget, it is Team GB!
Dave, UK

The Davis Cup in England has grown in popularity since Tim and Greg have been playing. I would like to congratulate them on bringing tennis into the live of my children. Through Tim and Greg, the sport seems to have grown but we need new younger players to replace them soon. Mini tennis is a start but it needs to be available in schools not just at clubs.
Deborah Freeman, England

Tim did a great job, but where was Greg, not even supporting his 'countrymen'. We need strength in depth. Lee and Parmar were thrown into an arena where they should thrive but bottled it completely.

Still, at least they have the comfort of when they retire they can get a cushy job working for the TV or radio - ala Andrew Castle and Chris Bailey, both of whose greatest achievement was nearly beating a top player at Wimbledon!
Stephen, UK

I am appalled at the criticism of Greg Rusedski on this thread. Have the snipers stopped to consider where British tennis would have been over the last few years without him?

Greg has done at least as much as Tim Henman to raise the profile and respect for British tennis and the rivalry between the two has been healthy for the game and given the fans 'local' interest.

What short memories people have! Jeremy Bates was the best we had not so long ago and any interest we had in Slams was restricted to the first round. Get off Greg's back and wish him well in his fitness battle!
Chris, England

I would like to think GB can build on things but let's face it, it was a pretty pathetic performance from the rest of the team. Why not give people like Alex Bogdanovic a chance?

Roger Taylor says you can't throw in a player like that - but I say, why not? He can't do any worse than Lee and Parmar! And he might just surprise a few of the old guard in the LTA (Davis Cup captain included), who believe that no one can be the best before they have done many years as an also-ran first.

Get a young team of enthusiastic players together - we can't do any worse. I dread to think what will happen when Tim decides to retire. It's obvious that Greg hasn't got the bottle to do anything on his own and will probably be retiring before Tim anyway.

It will not be long before GB is back at the bottom of Euro Africa Group III (or even back in the Vauxhall Conference league)! Thankfully, we can only sink one group per year or it would be a bit like diving and never finding the bottom of the sea!!

Anyone who sees any opposition to GB and says it is "no contest" should remember that dreaded word ECUADOR... Oh, and if anyone is interested, they have got several good young players coming through so perhaps another tie will not be a laughing matter! In fact, they have more decent players coming through that Britain has.

Back to Team GB - perhaps Roger should try a doubles team of Alex Bogdanovic and Lee Childs. I can promise you one thing - they would be better than any Lee/Parmar/Delgado partnership any day.
SV, UK

Tim Henman's magnificent effort on behalf of his country this last weekend should have silenced those whose hobby in life is to rubbish him - however, it appears not! There must be some young talented players somewhere in this country of ours, but how do we find them?

Perhaps the media could help by giving tennis much more coverage. It is also regarded as an elite sport, quite wrongly in my opinion. I came from a perfectly ordinary background and still managed to learn how to play. Maybe it needs to be taught better at school level!
Katharine Booth, United Kingdom

It's a bit like asking when will Great Britain have another Wimbledon finalist or heaven forbid winner! British players since Perry and Austin have sadly fallen short. The women's game is in an even worse state. But we'll still back them through thick and thin.
James, France

In the short term, of course Britain can mix it with the elite. But as so many have said - when Tim and Greg go, there really isn't enough strength in depth to mount a serious challenge to the rest of the world. We need a far better, far less elitist coaching system. NOW!
Simon Mirza, UK

Where on earth would we have been without Tim this weekend? He was injured and played on, very well as it happened. Greg was injured and didn't even show up to lend his moral support to the team. You are such a disappointment Greg!

We would only really stand a chance of beating other World Group countries if they also were a two or three-man team. Then at least all is even. Otherwise, without at least a decent doubles team that doesn't need either Tim or Greg, then we stand little chance unless there's a very promising junior waiting in the wings.
Dave, England

Until we have more than two world-class players, we will never be able to challenge the likes of France, Russia and the USA. The youth system has to work better at providing new talent.
Alex Rendall, UK

I think Britain would fair well in the world group, but they are over-reliant on two factors. The first is Tim Henman being fit and on form, and the second is the necessity to be on home soil. Without these two factors there is little chance of Britain progressing.
Paz, UK

Once again, the wannabe tennis fans are bleating about how good team GB appear to be. I've heard a lot about how good Miles Maclagan done in the doubles. He must have been really surprised at the level of support he got from a 'home' crowd!!

I seem to remember not so long ago he played Becker at Wimbledon during the Germans last year at the tournament and the 'home' fans cheered every point Becker won....What a bunch of two-facers!!!
Gerry, Scotland

England is world class when it comes to playing at home and when both Tim and Greg are fit and available. They are capable of beating any team. Now, I am afraid to say it's not enough in the Davis cup. Why? Because sooner or later, they'll be required to play on clay against the likes of Spain, France or Argentina and we all know what it means: the same question next year on the same website; I'll see you then!
Christophe, UK

Oh come on, is this really a serious question? Just because Tim manged to carry another British no-hoper against a relatively poor Thailand side doesn't mean we are any better than we were last week.
Ian S, UK

I would like to think that the GB team could hold their own against Russia, USA, France but if Tim Henman is the best Great Britain have, then forget it.
Simon Jarvis, England

So beating Thailand is a cause for celebration is it? England is arguably the home of tennis - certainly the birth place - and yet not staying in the lower reaches of the game is a success!

Tim Henman plays arguably his best tennis outside of Wimbledon in the Davis Cup but until a team can be picked instead of waiting to see who turns up, the Australians, Americans and nearly every other decent side will walk over Britain.
Chris Sherrard, England

This was Tim GB not Team GB
John Underwood, Scotland

When they do break through they are not fit enough as all the time is spent hitting balls and they do little or no gym work which means they get injured. We have a long way to go.
Peter Reeve, Britain

We'll get creamed in the elite division! US, France, Russia, Australia, Argentina, and so on will give us a right tonking. But who cares? Now is the time to draw more talent into the sport, give it some great funding and recruit the best coaching talent.

Follow the ECB's example in hiring the enemy, living on their turf and trying to get even. Let's try to keep up with the big boys and re-evaluate in five years.
Jonathan Jones, UK

To those who say "Who needs Greg Rusedski?" - we do! We cannot rely on Tim Henman alone. We must encourage our young tennis players to develop into world class players, otherwise we are in for another lean period.
Peter, UK

Today Tim Henman proved himself once and for all, by beating a world-class player when troubled by injury!! And now maybe he can teach Greg a thing or two!
Neam Al-Mossawi, England

Yes of course they can. Who needs Greg Rusedski? I and other fans are appalled that Greg is not even courtside to give support to his fellow countrymen. Could it be because he is embarrassed after his comments at the US Open regarding Pete Sampras?

Or, is it because he just didn't want to play at the NIA, heaping more pressure on his rival Tim? I guess we will never know, but the answer to the original question is a great big emphatic YES.
Sylvia UK, United Kingdom

Now we know who the true Brit is - he who plays even though he may not be 100% fit. Come on Tim and co. Who needs Greg?!
Karl H, England

Miles Maclagan did a super job in the doubles. As he is playing better than Tim I'd like to see him 'up front' on Sunday.
Cynthia Maddock, England

Come on GB, we all now you can do it. It would be much easier if we had Rusedski (because I think he is better than Henman) but we will do it without him because we are playing easy opponents!
Rob, England

I think that this is a great opportunity to let British players compete. When Greg and Tim hang up their rackets, who will we look to next? There are young players like Martin Lee who could do well here, and show us that Britain still has a hope of success in the tennis world.
Alex H, USA

It will be too close to call. GB and Thailand both have a 50-50 chance to win. Even though Henman is still injured, don't forget GB can take advantage from being a host. Thailand, on the other hand, have Srichaphan and Udomchoke healthy and eager to win this game, but the only hope they have is from Srichaphan. I think GB will triumph over Thailand 2-1.
Ben, USA

I think Ed from the UK (below) overplays Kafelnikov's return to form. Yes, his burning ambition to win the Davis Cup must rival that of Pat Rafter, but, despite his tournament win last week in a very weak field, his form has been nothing to write home about all season.

Safin is notoriously nonchalant about tennis, and the prospect of a group of underrated yet motivated and often brilliant Argentinians makes this tie too close to call. Step forward Nalbandian, Chela, and Gaudio, and lift the spirits of the stricken Argentine.

PS. Udomchoke v Martin Lee for a place in the World Group. You heard it (if not their names) here first.
Mossy, UK

To say that Srichaphan's form is 'of concern' is classic understatement. A fit Henman would be challenged by the Thai's form right now and with Rusedski out the Thais can expect two singles wins unless Henman is fitter than we think.

It will not be easy. As an expatriate hoping for a UK win I am positive, but those of you who have not seen Srichaphan play will see a world-class player.
Nicholas Brandes, US

Even Thailand have only one player ranked in the top 200 - Paradorn. However, the number two player from Thailand, Udomchonk is also a very good player. Thus, Thailand will have more chance in this.
TT, Australia

This tie is a no-contest. They haven't exactly got a plethora of decent players, no-one sees them as a real threat, and their best player hasn't won anything for ages. But hopefully, Britain can put up a fight.
Katie, UK