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Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.
Will Australia choose the grass courts against the United States March 4-6, 2016? It could happen. New captain Lleyton Hewitt has always loved the grass, winning Wimbledon back in 2002.
The last time that the Australians faced the USA was in 1999, when the teenager Hewitt led them to victory in Boston on hard courts. However, this time around, the Aussies could play on grass at a number of events, like at Kooyong at Melbourne, or Sydney, among others.
This year in the quarterfinals, the Aussies played on grass in Darwin, beating Kazakhstan. In the semis, they went down against Britain away.
Hewitt has yet to decide who will be playing, but he could start Bernard Tomic and Nick Kyrgios in the singles. Both like the grass and both of them have reached Wimbledon the quarters, in 2011 for Tomic and this year for Kyrgios.
Hewitt might also call in a teenager, Thanasi Kokkinakis, or the veteran, Sam Groth.
The US captain Jim Courier could bring in a number of different players if it’s on grass. John Isner is ranked No. 11 and played fairly solid this year, but he has never gone deep at Wimbledon. The young No. 26 Jack Sock is rising, but he hasn’t been able to learn the grass yet either. Courier could play No. 32 Steve Johnson, or No. 48 Donald Young, but neither of them have reached the second weeks at Wimbledon. Perhaps it could be the 23-year-old Denis Kudla, who cracked the top 70 this season, reaching the fourth round this year at Wimbledon.
It is likely that Courier will ask the 16-time Grand Slam doubles event champions, Bob and Mike Bryans to join the team.
In Davis Cup, Hewitt played 41 ties, with 42 wins and 14 losses in singles. The 34 year old said that he can’t wait to teach the youngsters, on grass or elsewhere.
“We have a rich tradition in Davis Cup, with so many great players,” Hewitt said. “I want the young boys to understand that, and I’m proud to have been trusted to lead the next generation. For me, it’s about instilling my experience and helping the younger players be their best.”
Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.
