BBC SPORT | Tennis | Maclagan partners Henman

Scotland's Miles Maclagan, so recently in retirement, has been thrust into the heat of the world's top team tournament after being named as Tim Henman's doubles partner in the Davis Cup.

But the country's emerging stars, Elena Baltacha and Alan Mackin, were experiencing mixed fortunes at the satellite tournament at Scotstoun in Glasgow.

Baltacha reached the semi-finals of the women's tournament while Mackin made a surprise exit in his quarter-final.

But it is Maclagan who will be performing at a higher stage on Saturday after being brought into the British team to face Thailand in place of the injured Greg Rusedski.

I am in a vital match, a big stadium, the Davis Cup. What more can I ask for?

Miles Maclagan

The most notable achievement on the LTA biography of 27-year-old Maclagan, the British No.14, for the last two years is reaching the quarter-finals of the Macedonian Open in 2000.

He gave up tournament play at the end of 2000 and spent a year coaching Wayne Black, one of the world's top doubles players.

"I still kept myself fit and played a lot of tennis," Maclagan told BBC Scotland.

"I decided I still want to be a tennis player and, while I enjoy the coaching, I thought 'why do all this for someone else when I can do it for myself?'.

"I have played 15-20 tournaments since April, which is probably as much as anyone.

"Now I am in a vital match, a big stadium, the Davis Cup. What more can I ask for?"

Maclagan and Henman will have a difficult task against the pairing of Vittaya Samrej and Paradorn Srichaphan.

Srichaphan has climbed from 120th in the world at the start of the year to his current position of 31st.

Alan Mackin
Mackin had hoped to win the event
That came courtesy of his first tour title in Long Island last month and impressive wins over the likes of Andre Agassi in the second round at Wimbledon this year.

Defeat would relegate Britain to the Euro/African Zone.

Mackin was hopeful of going all the way at the LTA Men's Futures event at Scotstoun.

But he missed out on a semi-final spot after going down 6-4, 6-4 to Jean-Claude Scherrer of Switzerland.

There was better news for the home crowd in the LTA Women's Event, Baltacha defeating Ireland's Yvonne Doyle 7-5, 6-4.

More fortune was with the Scot as prospective opponent Sophie Erre of France pulled out injured to allow Baltacha a free passage into the semi-finals.

Results, LTA Women's Event, Scotstoun, Glasgow, second round: Elena Baltacha (GB) bt Yvonne Doyle (Ireland) 7-5 6-4, Sophie Erre (France) bt Samantha Stosur (Australia) 7-6 (9-7) 7-6 (7-2), Sofia Arvidsson (Sweden) bt Christina Horiatopoulos (Australia) 6-1 6-0, Anne Keothavong (GB) bt Emily Webley-Smith (GB) 6-4 7-5.

Results, LTA Men's Futures, quarter finals: Mark Hilton (GB) bt Andreas Spaniol (Germany) 6-2 6-2, Luke Bourgeois (Australia) bt Jonathan Marray (GB) 6-1 7-6 (7-3), Jean-Claude Scherrer (Switzerland) bt Alan Mackin (GB) 6-4 6-4.


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