Australia’s bid to make it third time fortunate of their bid to win the Davis Cup below Lleyton Hewitt will face a difficult examination first up within the finals group stage in Valencia.
Hewitt’s crew have reached the ultimate of the lads’s World Cup of tennis for the final two years however should end within the prime two of their Spanish group in September if they’re to get one other probability to then go for glory within the ‘last eight’ week to be staged in Malaga two months later.
Their group additionally options matches in opposition to the Czech Republic and hosts Spain, however a lot will relaxation on their opening encounter which was revealed on Thursday to be in opposition to a strong French crew that’s set to incorporate two top-20 gamers – left-handers Ugo Humbert and Adrian Mannarino.
Each tie might be a one-day, best-of-three-rubbers affair, that includes two singles and a doubles, however the opener is a probably pivotal conflict between two evenly-matched groups, who each have power in depth with Alex de Minaur, an impressed performer within the Davis Cup, set to spearhead the Australian cost once more.
That group B conflict on September 10 might be adopted by the Australians taking up the Czechs two days later, with the daunting chance of a bunch decider in opposition to a Carlos Alcaraz-led Spanish crew on the ultimate day, Sunday, September 15.
The Jannik Sinner-inspired champions Italy, who beat Australia 2-0 in final yr’s last, will kick off the defence of their trophy in opposition to Brazil in Bologna on September 11. Italy will even play in opposition to the Netherlands and Belgium in Group A.
The United States, document 32-times winners, will begin group C, which is being staged in Zhuhai, China, in opposition to Chile earlier than then happening to play Slovakia and Germany.
The British-hosted group in Manchester will see the GB facet play 2022 champions Canada – in addition they beat Australia in that yr’s last – on the ultimate day with Finland and Argentina finishing pool D.
The eight groups who qualify for the finals will play in Malaga from November 19 to 24.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
