A change in the International Tennis Federation rules makes it impossible for tennis players to switch their allegiance and play for another country.

The Czech Republic’s Tomas Berdych beat Spain’s Nicolas Almagro in a four-hour five-setter to tie the Davis Cup final at 1-1 after day one.

Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer thrashed their French opponents, giving Spain a 2-0 lead over France in the opening rubber of the Davis Cup semifinal.

Spain proved there is life without Rafael Nadal when they swept aside Switzerland on Sunday to set-up a Davis Cup quarterfinal with France.

The Davis Cup tie between South Africa and India at Ellis Park, starting on Friday, is truly a time to separate the contenders from the pretenders.

The Oxford Dictionary defines an Indian summer as a belated period of warm, sunny weather that materialises long after expected.