- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Australia are fed up with being stuck in the Davis Cup wilderness and captain Pat Rafter says his team could not be better prepared to end a six-year exile from the World Group.
The 28-time Davis Cup champions get their latest shot at returning to the competition’s top tier in the World Group playoff against Poland in Warsaw, starting on Friday.
And a team featuring Lleyton Hewitt and Bernard Tomic needn’t look far for motivation.
The proud Davis Cup nation has not appeared in the top 16 since 2007, with last year’s heartbreaking defeat to Germany the nation’s third straight World Group playoff loss.
“We’re sick and tired of being where we are and falling over at the last hurdle,” Rafter told AAP.
Rafter’s squad spent last week training in Munich, minus late arrival Hewitt who reached the last 16 at the US Open, and has since spent five days finalising preparations on the indoor clay court at Warsaw’s Towar Hall.
The form and attitude displayed by the players over the past fortnight has surpassed anything Rafter has seen since he took the captaincy in late 2010.
“So far it’s the best preparation we’ve ever had,” Rafter said.
“It’s going to be a tough one. We’re playing these guys at home on clay, but the boys have given themselves the best opportunity to get there and that’s what I’m most proud of.”
Last year’s failed attempt to return to the World Group remains a bitter pill to swallow for Rafter’s team.
Australia led Germany 2-1 in Hamburg before Tomic and Hewitt both lost reverse singles matches on the final day.
“That was a very heavy mental loss for all the boys. We took that one pretty hard,” Rafter said.
“We hope that we can get in that position again and we can get over the line this time.”
Australia were handed a tough but winnable draw in facing Poland, who are attempting to reach the World Group for the first time.
The visitors’ prospects could be significantly boosted with serious doubts over the fitness of Poland’s leading light Jerzy Janowicz, by far the highest ranked player in the tie at world No.14.
The Wimbledon semi-finalist has been troubled by an ongoing back problem and had to resort to serving underarm at one point during a first-round loss to Argentine qualifier Maximo Gonzalez at the US Open.
His withdrawal would likely mean 113th-ranked Michal Przysiezny joining world No.70 Lukasz Kubot in the singles.
Specialist doubles duo Marcin Matkowski and Mariusz Fyrstenberg will take on the unbeaten Davis Cup pair of Hewitt and Chris Guccione.
Rafter has indicated 32-year-old Davis Cup great Hewitt will only feature in one singles rubber, meaning Marinko Matosevic, yet to prove himself under pressure, will likely come in for either an opening rubber or the reverse singles.
Top-ranked Australian Tomic won both of his singles matches in Australia’s last win over Uzbekistan again looms as crucial to hopes.
But the 20-year-old will have to overcome a modest record and clay and a dramatic period culminating in his father being charged with assault.
The inspirational Hewitt, who boasts a 39-13 win-loss record in Davis Cup singles, remains the driving force of the side and earning another crack at the World Group would provide even more motivation to extend his career.
“Whether you’re playing Taiwan in Kaohsiung or Serbia in the final, Lleyton’s always the same. He fires up,” Rafter said.
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.