Alistair Hunt has overcome an ankle injury to take his place in the New Zealand team for the first round of the Asia-Oceania Davis Cup tennis tie against Korea starting in Seoul today.
Hunt was untroubled when undertaking a fitness test during a one-hour training session at the tie venue yesterday.
The big-serving Cantabrian, who had the test shortly before the official draw, sprained the ankle on Tuesday and returned to the practice court for the first time yesterday.
With James Greenhalgh only recently returning to a fuller diet of singles play after concentrating almost exclusively on doubles in recent years, and the inexperience of newcomer Lee Radovanovich, New Zealand captain Glenn Wilson considered Hunt pivotal to the team's chances.
"A lot depends on Alistair's fitness," Wilson said.
The New Zealanders will face a considerable test in Korean No 1 Hyung-Taik Lee, who is ranked 87, while the rest of the line-up have comparable rankings in the higher echelons.
- NZPA
Tennis: Hunt back on court for cup
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