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Rafael Nadal it also make his comeback into tennis in the Davies cup. It will be Nadal’s first appearance since tearing a leg muscle while losing in the Australian Open quarter-finals to his compatriot David Ferrer.

Ferrer is also in Spain’s line-up, with Fernando Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez, for the first-round match in March.

Captain Albert Costa said: “When Nadal joins our training camp, he’ll be in perfect condition.”

Li Na beats Kim Clijsters to win the Sydney International title. Eighth seed Li was 0-5 down after only 18 minutes, but fought back to win in straight sets 7-6 (7-3) 6-3.

“I didn’t believe I could get back from there but it all just changed in one or two points,” said Li.

The win is a fourth career title for world number 11 Li and a boost ahead of next week’s Australian Open, where she reached the semi-final last year.

The trophies that Pete Sampras won in his distinguished career has been stolen. The American said the trophies were taken from a warehouse in Los Angeles, where they were being kept in storage.

“Losing this stuff is like having the history of my tennis life taken away,” the retired star told the Los Angeles Times newspaper.

Mr Sampras said he wanted his children to see the trophies and appealed for help in getting them back.