Aleksandar Vukic has joined the squad to doubtlessly play singles alongside Alex de Minaur in Australia’s Davis Cup Qualifier tie in Stockholm.
Stockholm, Sweden, 30 January 2025 | Dan Imhoff
Lleyton Hewitt has full religion a revised Davis Cup crew for Australia’s Qualifier tie in opposition to Sweden on the weekend will get the job executed.
Belly and wrist points for Nick Kyrgios and lower-leg and foot accidents for Jordan Thompson have opened the door for Aleksandar Vukic to make his debut, whereas doubles specialists Matthew Ebden and John Friends have returned for responsibility alongside spearhead Alex de Minaur.
One of many heroes of Australia’s Davis Cup quarterfinal win over the USA, Thanasi Kokkinakis, has additionally travelled with the crew for the tie, which begins on the Royal Tennis Corridor in Stockholm on Saturday, 1 February (AEDT).
“Nick received’t be coming right here. He’s suffered a few accidents via the Australian summer season,” Australian captain Hewitt mentioned. “I used to be excited to think about the potential for him to be again within the Davis Cup crew, however it wasn’t to be and clearly he’s very underdone together with his physique, so it’s not shocking he’s bought an harm making an attempt to play five-set tennis immediately with out many matches.
> READ MORE: Recapping Aussie singles success at AO2025
“Hopefully, fingers crossed, we get via and he could also be an choice down the observe.
“I’m very comfortable and assured with the squad that I’ve at my disposal. Very pleased with the fellows too to be trustworthy as a result of they make it a precedence to play for Australia … It’s not a straightforward time for us.
“We’ve had quite a lot of strain and expectation enjoying in Australia after which immediately hop on a aircraft and make this a precedence.”
Leo Borg, son of the nice Bjorn Borg, spearheads the Swedish crew, which will even embrace former world No.50 Mikael Ymer, who makes his return following an 18-month anti-doping ban.
The 26-year-old Ymer final week received his first occasion again at an ITF M25 occasion in Luxembourg.
“He’s a high quality participant. We’ve to be prepared for him,” Hewitt mentioned. “Clearly he got here in and performed a Futures [ITF event] final week and had success, however he’s loads higher participant than enjoying Futures. For me it’s about getting ready my gamers in addition to doable and I absolutely again my gamers to go on the market and get the job executed.”
> READ MORE: Ebden and Friends awarded Order of Australia medals
Australia leads the head-to-head between the 2 nations 7-3, however Sweden received their most up-to-date conflict within the World Group first spherical in Adelaide in 2004 when Hewitt claimed Australia’s sole victory over Robin Soderling in a 4-1 defeat to a crew that additionally included Thomas Enqvist, Jonas Bjorkman and Joachim Johansson.
“Two nice tennis nations which have had quite a lot of success and quite a lot of hard-fought matches through the years,” Hewitt mentioned. “Considered one of my best reminiscences is ’86 when Australia was capable of beat Sweden within the remaining and a man that I idolised, Pat Money, had one among his best moments. You want two good nations going collectively to make one thing as particular as that and that basically bought me into Davis Cup and what it meant to play for Australia.
“I’ve bought a very good relationship with all of the previous Swedish gamers I’ve battled in opposition to. I’ve performed Sweden in some huge Davis Cup matches myself.”
ORDER OF PLAY
Saturday, 1 February (AEDT): Two singles matches from 3am (AEDT)
Sunday, 2 February (AEDT): Two reverse singles matches and a doubles match from 11pm (AEDT)
HOW TO WATCH
Australia’s Davis Cup Qualifier first-round tie could be watched reside and free on 9Gem and 9Now.
Discover your strategy to play: Go to play.tennis.com.au to hit the court docket and have some enjoyable!
