Tennis: Hunt sticks with Statham and Tearney for Davis Cup

NZ Herald

1 Feb, 2017 06:04 PM2 mins to read

Finn Tearney became the first Kiwi since GD Jones in 2008 to qualify for the main draw of the ASB Classic. Photo/Jason Oxenham.

New Zealand Davis Cup captain Alistair Hunt will resist temptation to thrust Michael Venus into the opening day singles for this weekend's tie against India in Pune.

The Asia Oceania zone Group one tie draw is later today, but Hunt has confirmed to NZME Rubin Statham and Finn Tearney will play the opening two singles rubbers tomorrow with Venus to team up with Artem Sitak for Saturday's doubles.

Venus pushed top 30 ranked player Feliciano Lopez to three sets at last month's ASB Classic and showed he still has a quality singles game.

But Hunt says for Venus it's a tough ask because he doesn't play singles during the year being a doubles specialist.

"I think last year he played four singles matches and the other guys have shown good form and turned in good performances at the ASB Classic." Hunt said.

"They are out there on tour playing singles so deserve their spot and I am looking forward to seeing how they go on Friday."

Hunt feels New Zealand has a good chance of causing a massive upset with the conditions surprisingly good and India weakened by the absence of their top ranked doubles player Rohan Bopanna who has had a dispute with the Indian Federation.

"It all helps but they are a little bit stronger because their singles players are ranked higher, but for us we are not going to worry about them." Hunt said.

India is spearheaded by number one Saketh Myneni who is ranked 199, and Ramkumar Ramanathan at 278 but Hunt expects 378 ranked Yuki Bhambri to be chosen for the singles.

Veteran Leander Paes will form part of the Indian doubles combination.

Hunt says it's been a good build up this week and the conditions have been better than expected.

"The conditions are pretty good, nice and comfortable and the court is a good court. I was expecting it to be a lot hotter and with the singles matches starting at 3pm it's a bit cooler. The court is a good medium paced bouncy court and the boys are fit so they can't ask for anything more."