As a young tennis fan, I was never lucky enough to experience Australian tennis in full flight.
While I have followed Lleyton Hewitt for a number of years, his best years are well behind him and unfortunately YouTube will have to suffice if I am to experience them.
My grandma could bash on for hours if you were to engage her in a conversation about Australian tennis during the 1950s through 1990s.
Names such as John Alexander, Darren Cahill, Pat Cash, Mark Edmonson, Kim Warwick, John Newcomb, Roy Emerson and Rod Laver are all thrown around. Many of these names are unfamiliar to me and I must admit I consulted Google to top up this list.
Laver and Newcomb are familiar to me, but not because of their prowess on the tennis court. The name of Melbourne Park’s Centre Court and Newcomb’s brief commentary during Wimbledon are how I know these two players.
Nevertheless, I tell my silly old grandma that within a few years, Australia will once again be a nation boasting many of the world’s top players.
This optimistic statement is exemplified by Australia’s recent return to the World Group of the Davis Cup.
Overcoming a weak Uzbekistan side, Australia won the tie 5-0 at Cottesloe in Western Australia to ensure they have some momentum heading into the World Group.
Led by Pat Rafter (who I most famously know for being the title bearer of Brisbane’s Centre Court and his promotional work for Bonds), the team that consisted of Lleyton Hewitt, Nick Kyrigos, Sam Groth and Chris Guccione defeated Uzbekistan last week to return to the World Group. Many Australian tennis fans automatically associate the World Group with Australian Tennis due to our dominance in previous years (so I’m told).
The World Group will be no easy task for a rising Australian team. The draw was conducted late last week and Australia has been drawn to play the Czech Republic. Boasting Tomas Berdych and Lukas Rosol as their one and two players, Australia face a firm test but not an impossible one.
Rafter is spoilt for choice in terms of players to pick his team from. Assuming all are healthy and fit, Rafter has to choose from the following players all ranked inside the top 100 for singles: Hewitt, Kyrigos, Bernard Tomic, Marinko Matosevic, Matthew Ebden and Groth.
Throw into the mix Guccione, who is a doubles specialist, and Rafter has quite a decision to make. But he can pick a side that is competitive on the ATP Tour and thus will be competitive in the World Group.
With Hewitt adding years of experience to the team, and Kyrigos and Tomic providing youthfulness, Australia will put up a good fight come the first tie.
The future for Australian tennis seems bright, with youngsters such as James Duckworth, Luke Saville, Thanasi Kokkinakis and Jordan Thompson all waiting in the wings.
The upcoming Australian Open will come at the perfect time for many of these young players as they are granted entry to their home Grand Slam.
In the coming years, Australia will be a consistent and dominant force in the World Group of the Davis Cup.
A force that I will rant about to my own grandchildren in many years’ time.
What do you think Roarers, is the future of Australian tennis on the rise?
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