Australia vs Poland - 2013 Davis Cup World Group playoff: Tennis live scores, blog

Australia will attempt to return to the Davis Cup World Group for the first time since 2007 with a win over Poland this weekend in Warsaw. Join The Roar as we live blog Australia’s important tie against Poland in the Davis Cup from midnight.

After defeating Chinese Taipei (5-0) and Uzbekistan (3-1) to qualify from the Asian group, Australia must now beat Poland for a place in the World Group and avoid a seventh straight year of being in the Davis Cup wilderness.

The task for Australia has gotten a little easier over the last few hours after the withdrawal of Jerzy Janowicz from the tie with a back injury.

Poland’s number one player – and the world number 14 – was forced out of this important match with a back injury he suffered at the US Open.

It’s a cruel blow to the Polish team who are looking to qualify for the World Group for the first time in their history.

In fact, it is the first ever playoff for the Polish team which has struggled to be competitive in its 78-year history in the competition.

Janowicz has been replaced by world number 113 Michal Przysiezny who recently made the second round of the French Open and Wimbledon Grand Slams.

While Australia shouldn’t underestimate Przysiezny leading into the tie, it does hand them a decisive advantage.

Australia sprung a shock of its own at the selection table with Marinko Matosevic, Chris Guccione, Lleyton Hewitt and Bernard Tomic picked for the initial squad.

Young Aussie, Nick Kyrgios, was also picked with the 2013 Australian Open Boys title winner joining the squad originally as a hitting partner.

However before the draw was officially announced, Kyrgios replaced Marinko Matosevic in the squad, and becomes the 103rd Australian to play in the Davis Cup squad.

At this stage, he isn’t being used with coach Pat Rafter picking Lleyton Hewitt, Bernard Tomic and Chris Guccione for the five matches.

Hewitt will play two singles matches and combine with Guccione in the doubles in a similar role the Aussie played last year against Germany in the playoff.

It’s a brave move by Rafter to name Hewitt for three matches in three days after it backfired on Australia last year.

After losing to Florian Mayer on Day 1, Hewitt was able to win the doubles on Day 2, but ran out of energy on Day 3 as he lost the deciding tie to Cedrik Marcel-Stebe.

Rafter and Hewitt will want to avoid the same situation and Kyrgios could be a late inclusion into tonight’s singles matches if there are concerns over the fitness of Hewitt over the three days.

Day 1 of the tie will see Bernard Tomic face Michal Przysiezny and Lleyton Hewitt facing Lukasz Kubot in the opening two singles matches.

Day 2 will see Lleyton Hewitt and Chris Guccione face Marcin Matkowski and Mariusz Fyrstenberg who are a strong doubles combination.

The final day will see a reverse of the singles matches with Przysiezny taking on Hewitt and Kubot up against Tomic.

The two teams have never played each other before at Davis Cup level and the tie is being played on the clay courts in Warsaw.

The loss of Janowicz cannot be understated and the tie has swung considerably in Australia’s favour.

Had Janowicz played, Poland could have won the three rubbers needed, with two from Janowicz and the final match from the doubles.

Now, Australia are in the box seat to win all their singles matches and not have to rely on the doubles to land the required result.

The doubles will be an interesting match with Hewitt and Guccione undefeated in 8 matches at the Davis Cup level.

Matkowski and Fyrstenberg will severely test that and it wouldn’t surprise me if they did defeat the Australian pair on Saturday.

Overall, Australia shouldn’t lose this tie. The loss of Janowicz will hurt Poland, and Tomic and Hewitt should win at least three matches between them to win the tie.

I believe the tie will be all over by the end of the fourth match with an Australian win and a return to the World Group for the first time since 2007.

Prediction: Australia 4-1

You can join The Roar over the weekend to see if Australia does indeed return to the World Group.