NZ Davis Cup team confirmed, location undecided

Marcus Daniell and Michael Venus in action during the Olympics. Photo / Getty Images

The New Zealand Davis Cup team for the Asia-Oceania Group 1 second round playoff 16-18 September has been confirmed, but the exact location of the tie has yet to be fully decided.

The tie was to be away against Pakistan but when Islamabad was rejected as a location by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and Pakistan decided not to host the event on neutral ground the tie was confirmed to be hosted in New Zealand.

It is likely it will be held in Christchurch at Wilding Park, subject to ITF approval.

The New Zealand team is Finn Tearney ranked 381, Rubin Statham at 444, , Michael Venus ranked 41st in doubles and Marcus Daniell 58 in doubles.

If Statham takes the court he will beat Onny Paruns New Zealand Davis Cup record of the most ties played for his country of 25 ties.

It is likely Pakistan will select their doubles expert Aisam Qureshi who is 36-years-old and ranked 48th in doubles. Aqeel Khan is another veteran who should be selected.

New Zealand Davis Cup captain, Alistair Hunt says the team is the strongest he can put on the court with the purpose of remaining in the top division in the region.

"The team has been selected again with an eye on having three singles players in Finn, Rubin and also Mike who is obviously highly ranked as a top doubles player but has a big impact in singles if we need him too. Marcus takes the doubles spot ahead of Artem Sitak as he currently has a higher ranking. All of the guys have been in form. Finn and Rubin have been playing Challenger tournaments and we know about the great success of Mike and Marcus. The key thing for us against Pakistan is to win and stay in what is a very tough Asia-Oceania Group 1," said Hunt who is based out of Christchurch.

New Zealand lead Pakistan 3-1 in head-to-head clashes. The last time the two sides clashed it was a 4-1 win for New Zealand in Myanmar in 2013.

- This story has been automatically published using a media release from New Zealand Tennis