Spanish inquisition follows anthem mix-up

Australian tennis officials were today forced to issue a grovelling apology to Spanish dignitaries after the wrong national anthem was played before the start of the Davis Cup Final.

The Spanish Secretary of State for Sport, Juan Antonio Gomez-Angulo, reacted furiously as Australian jazz trumpeter James Morrison played the Republican anthem Himno de Riego, named after a 19th Century revolutionary.

It was Spain's national anthem for eight years up until 1939 and its rendition today was greeted with boos from Spanish fans in the crowd. It prompted farcical scenes in Melbourne as Gomez-Angulo told the Spanish team not to start before the right anthem, Marcha Real, was played.

Lleyton Hewitt then went on to defeat Juan Carlos Ferrera 3-6, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6, 6-2 in the opening singles match but Spain levelled the tie when Carlos Moya beat Mark Philippoussis 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6.