After six years in the wilderness, Australia returns to the elite of tennis as it faces France in the first round of the Davis Cup World Group in La Roche-sur-Yon.
Amazingly, this is their first meeting since the 2001 Davis Cup final in Melbourne, where France defeated Australia 3-2 in a memorable (for some) tie.
Fast forward 13 years and the tie, on paper, doesn’t look as close.
For starters, the French have chosen clay as the surface for the tie.
Considering our lack of success on the surface and the fact the French are brought up on clay, it is fair to say Australia is at a disadvantage.
In addition, France has the luxury of having nine players out of the world top 50 to pick from, while Australia has just four in the top 100.
French captain Arnaud Clement has gone with the big guns, selecting top ten players Richard Gasquet and Jo-Wilfred Tsonga, excitement machine Gael Monfils and doubles specialist Julien Benneteau.
Australia, conversely, is stuck relying on veterans Lleyton Hewitt and Chris Guccione once again, with Bernard Tomic nursing a sore groin.
In a bold move, Aussie captain Pat Rafter passed over Marinko Mastosevic and Matthew Eden for the ‘special K’ duo of Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis.
It is a big call from Rafter in this tie to blood two young debutants who spend more on Proactiv than Deep Heat over the course of a season.
France deservedly goes into the tie as the short-price favourite.
They have a strong team that mixes powerful ground strokes with finesse and tennis intelligence.
The only thing that can stop a French victory is their attitude.
Despite the wealth of talent at their disposal, the French since 2001 have made just two finals in 13 years, with the team failing to progress past the quarter-finals in the previous two years.
For all the electronic rankings that decide the order, three ordinary performances from the team could spell disaster.
Australia’s faint hopes of victory will once again rely on Lleyton Hewitt’s fighting spirit.
Likely to play two singles rubbers and the doubles rubber, Hewitt has to win at least two of his three ties to give Australia a fighting chance.
Clay is not his strongest surface, with the former world number one only winning two of his 45 career titles on the red dust.
As for the ‘special Ks’, a win would be nice but the important thing for the duo to concentrate on during the tie is their development.
Taking on two top ten players in one weekend is a daunting task for even the world’s best, so I expect Kyrgios and Kokkinakis to feel a tad nervous.
They need to play with strength and confidence in the same way both did at the Australian Open.
If they make a contest of their rubbers and keep the pressure on, they’ll cause headaches in the French camp.
Prediction
Despite Pat Rafter’s confidence, France will easily win the tie 4-1.
Despite Pat Rafter’s confidence, France will easily win the tie 4-1.
Australia’s best chance will be in the doubles as I can’t see them being victorious in any of the singles.
Jo-Will and Gasquet are big names with big tennis games, while Kyrgios and Kokkinakis are starting out on their journey.
Hewitt will give his all as usual but it just won’t be enough to topple a strong French side.
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