- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
The equation is simple for Australia, win today in the doubles and the Davis Cup team is back in the World Group in 2015. Join The Roar for a live blog of the doubles match between Australia and Uzbekistan from 2:00pm (AEST).
Yesterday, Nick Kyrgios and Lleyton Hewitt put Australia in a perfect position for victory in the tie, after winning both singles matches on the grass court in Perth.
Nick Kyrgios defeated Denis Istomin 6-4 7-5 6-4 in an impressive performance as his opponent struggled with a hip injury for the last set and a half.
Hewitt then gave Australia a 2-0 lead with a 6-4 6-4 6-2 win over Farrukh Dustov.
The rubbers yesterday provide Australia with a chance of winning the tie today and make Sunday’s singles matches dead rubbers. The rubber wins also asked questions as to who will play in the doubles as well.
For Australia it is all about either resting or playing Lleyton Hewitt.
For Uzbekistan it is all about making sure Denis Istomin is fit for the doubles.
With the way he was moving towards the end of the match, it will be hard for Istomin to be fit for today’s doubles match.
That doesn’t mean he won’t play, and Uzbekistan may take the risk to play him, in this all important match.
If Istomin is out, then either Temur Ismailov, or Sanjar Fayziev, will replace him.
Both are ranked 1,856 in the world in doubles.
Neither player has played in a live match, or a doubles match, in the Davis Cup before.
Losing Istomin would be huge for Uzbekistan.
Australia, on the other hand, has the luxury of potentially resting Hewitt for the important clash.
With Sam Groth in the team, and being ranked higher than Hewitt in doubles, he could comfortably replace the South Australian and compete with Chris Guccione.
The only thing Groth doesn’t have is experience in the Davis Cup.
This tie is his debut in the Davis Cup and that would be the only thing worrying Rafter as he decides who to unleash with Guccione in the doubles rubber.
When it comes to Guccione both players have experience playing doubles with him. Hewitt and Guccione are 5 wins and 1 loss in doubles matches at the Davis Cup.
They also combined for the doubles title at the ATP event in Newport earlier this year. Groth has also had success with Guccione with the duo winning in Bogota a couple of months ago.
They have also won 5 ATP Challenger titles this year as well.
It will be a tough decision for Rafter to make because both combinations have been successful this year.
It will also depend on how Hewitt feels after yesterday’s match.
The Aussie has struggled to play three straight days of Davis Cup tennis recently and the decision could be made to rest him in preparation for tomorrow.
In relation to the match itself, both combinations, should be too strong for Istomin and Farrukh Dustov.
The Uzbek’s have played in 14 matches together for 7 wins and 7 losses in Davis Cup competition.
In World Group playoff matches they are 0 wins and 2 losses.
The key for Australia is making the duo move around the court. We saw yesterday with the court that players had trouble moving in different directions on the surface.
If they can do that then Australia will win the rubber and the tie.
With the injury to Istomin, and the strength of Australia’s combinations in doubles, I can’t see Australia losing today.
The intrigue is going to come with who Rafter picks to partner Guccione.
Don’t be surprised if the fastest ever server in the world, Sam Groth, makes his debut today for Australia.
PREDICTION: Australia in 4 sets.
Whether it’s aces or races, try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp for great odds and a great punting experience. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.