Kooyong to host Australia’s Davis Cup clash with US

SYDNEY: Australia’s first-round Davis Cup World Group clash with the United States in March will be played on grass at Kooyong in Melbourne in a tie marking Lleyton Hewitt’s debut as captain.

The former home of the Australian Open Grand Slam will host its first Davis Cup showdown in 10 years from March 4-6 on a portable grass court, organisers said Thursday.

“To play Davis Cup in Melbourne, the home of tennis in Australia, at a club like Kooyong with so much tennis history is a privilege,” said Hewitt.

“The tie against the United States is going to be tough,” he added.

“It will be my first tie as captain and I’ll be looking to help the boys build on the momentum and progress of 2015.”

The United States and Australia are the two most successful nations in Davis Cup history. The Americans have won a record 32 times while Australia is second overall with 28 wins.

Australia’s most recent tie against their arch-rivals was in 1999 where Hewitt made his Davis Cup debut.

Alongside Pat Rafter, he led his country to a 4-1 World Group quarter-finals victory over the United States, whose team included current captain Jim Courier.

Hewitt retires as a player following next month’s Australian Open, after which he will focus his attention on working with talented youngsters Bernard Tomic, Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis in his new role as Davis Cup captain. Kooyong last hosted the Open in 1987.