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Aussie team for Japan Davis Cup tie

SYDNEY: Australia's veteran performer and former World No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt will lead Peter Luczak, Carsten Ball and Paul Hanley in the Davis Cup tie against Japan next month, officials said on Tuesday.

“We think we have a good, strong team capable of winning our way back into the world group,” Davis Cup captain John Fitzgerald said.

Two-time Grand Slam champion Hewitt is on the comeback after undergoing surgery for a troublesome hip injury, having used the European clay court season as preparation for the May 7-9 tie in Brisbane.

Australia has elected to take on Japan on clay rather than on hard-court for their Asia/Oceania zone second-round tie, which will suit clay-courter and World No. 72 Luczak.

Big-serving left-hander Ball has been included in the team after combining with doubles specialist Paul Hanley to win the doubles rubber over Chinese Taipei in Melbourne in March.

Australia last met Japan in 1996, winning 4-1 and leads Japan 14-2 in Davis Cup, having won their last six encounters.

The winner of the Brisbane tie advances to the World Group playoffs in September.

Rising teenager Bernard Tomic, with whom Hewitt has had a public spat, was not included in the team but Fitzgerald insisted there was no bad blood between the pair.

“Everything is fine. I hope one day that they can play in a Davis Cup team together,” he said. — AFP

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