The blockbuster is expected to pit two of the world’s most talented young players against each other, Australia’s own Nick Kyrgios up against Germany’s Alexander Zverev, the current world No.4, as they battle it out for national glory.
Kyrgios led Australia to its second Davis Cup semifinal in three years in Brisbane in April and will hope to use the home ground advantage to go one better in 2018.
Zverev, who has had his best year on tour winning 55 matches and five titles including two ATP Masters 1000 trophies, will play at Pat Rafter Arena for the first time.
Australian Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt believes Brisbane will give the Aussies the best possible start to their 2018 campaign.
“The team always enjoys playing at Pat Rafter Arena and Australia’s had a lot of Davis Cup success there in the past,” Hewitt said.
“Both Jordan Thompson and Nick Kyrgios performed at the highest level to ensure we could get the win over the United States and move through to the semis last year.
“Our tie against Germany will be no mean feat and the boys will need to be in their very best form, potentially up against the likes of Sascha and Mischa Zverev, Philipp Kohlschreiber and Jan-Lennard Struff.”
Tennis Queensland President Mark Bloomfield is pleased the Queensland Tennis Centre has the opportunity to host another hotly contested tie.
“We are delighted Pat Rafter Arena has been chosen yet again to host a Davis Cup World Group tie,” Bloomfield said.
“We look forward to welcoming both the Aussie and German teams in February and we hope the boys can clinch the win.”
February’s tie is proudly supported by the Queensland Government, through Tourism and Events Queensland, as part of the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar.
Three-day tickets go on sale Wednesday 13 December 2017 via Ticketek.
Tickets are $150 for adults, $25 for children and $325 for a family pass.
Team nominations will be announced 10 days out from the tie.
Tie fast facts
• It will be the fourth time a Davis Cup tie, the second in 12 months, will be hosted at Pat Rafter Arena
• The last time the two nations played was in 2012 when Germany won a World Group Play-off tie 3-2 in Hamburg
• Australia leads the head-to-head between the two nations 4-3
• Germany won their most important battle, the 1993 Davis Cup Final in Dusseldorf
• The winner of this tie will face the winner of Great Britain and Spain in the quarterfinals from 6 to 8 April 2018
• Australia has reached the Davis Cup semifinals in two of the last three years
• Germany are aiming to win a first round tie for just the second time since 2011.
No comments:
Post a Comment