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The Davis Cup world group playoffs get underway with Australian firebrand Nick Kyrgios being declared fit and taking on Slovakia’s world no. 127 Andrej Martin. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 11am (AEST).
Australia find themselves in the world group playoffs after going down to the USA earlier in the year, despite playing on grass at home and being favourites.
Slovakia on the other hand, have come from their zone group where they recorded a big win over Hungary, but away from home and not on clay this will be a completely different sort of challenge.
Kyrgios is coming off what can only be described as a disappointing US Open campaign after he struggled with injury and had to retire in the third round after displaying some strong form.
Of course, it is half a surprise he has chosen to play in the Davis Cup at all after his previous spats with Tennis Australia saw him miss the Olympics and the tie against the USA.
Martin, on the other hand at 27 years of age is ranked outside the top 100 in singles action and makes his way into the Slovakian side after their top-ranked player Martin Klizan pulled out of the tie.
While Martin is a very strong play on clay, which is easily his favourite surface he has played a grand total of nine matches on grass since 2005, only winning two of them and coming into an important tie against Kyrgios and Tomic, who love grass that is a stat that is hard to overlook.
Despite that, Martin did manage to get all the way to the third round of the Olympics and on the back of a third round French Open exit got into the top 100 earlier in the year.
His Challenger form since the Olympics has left a lot to be desired here, and the ease he has been broken with means Kyrgios should do so quite easily.
As long as Kyrgios can hold his serve, which might take more effort than he is expecting given Martin is a very strong returner, then the hip is the biggest question about this match, along with the mental attitude of the firey Australian.
The pair have faced off once before, back in 2014 when Martin defeated Kyrgios in straight sets at a challenger event on the clay court in Germany.
Prediction
Kyrgios is the better player, and as long as he makes a good start and doesn’t have a hip injury flare up during the match, he will get the job done.
Kyrgios in four sets.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this first rubber between Australia and Slovakia from 11am (AEST) and don’t forget to add your own comments in the section below.