Tennis: Top team for Davis Cup clash

Rubin Statham of NZ. Photo / Nick Reed

A full strength New Zealand team has been confirmed for the important Asia/Oceania Group One Davis Cup tennis clash against India in Christchurch next month.

The Asia/Oceania Group One final has the big reward for the winner of taking part in the World Group playoffs against potential opponents such as the United States, Czech Republic, Switzerland or Germany later in the year.

The tie against India will be held indoors at Wilding Park Tennis Centre from July 17-19, the same venue where the home team beat Chinese Taipei in October last year.

The team is Rubin Statham, Michael Venus, Marcus Daniell and Artem Sitak.

Statham has moved his ranking back up to 342. When competing in singles, Venus has put in top performances such as qualifying at the ATP event in Nice before being beaten by 50th-ranked Steve Johnson.

However, doubles results have seen Venus excel including winning his first ATP title at Nice with Mate Pavic and also taking out two Challenger titles and being a finalist in another all with Pavic. Venus is now ranked 52 in doubles.

Daniell has continued his rise up the doubles rankings to 78 and played his first Grand Slam at Roland Garros recently. Sitak is New Zealand's top ranked doubles player, ranked 42.

"We know India will be tough and that they have the doubles legend Leander Paes in their team as well as a couple of top-200 singles players," New Zealand captain Alastair Hunt said. "But with good crowd support we can do this and make it through to the playoffs."

India are likely to be led by Yuki Bhambri, ranked 157 in singles, with Somdev Devvarman at 173. Rohan Bopana is 18 in the world in doubles with Paes 23.