Millman spearheads Australian Davis Cup tilt

THERE’S no let-up for John Millman as the US Open quarter-finalist leads Australia into Davis Cup battle with Austria this weekend.

With regular spearhead Nick Kyrgios saving himself for next week’s Laver Cup, Australia will rely on Millman and young gun Alex de Minaur for singles duty for the claycourt tie in Graz starting today.

Lleyton Hewitt is tipped to partner with John Peers in the doubles after naming himself as player-captain for a World Group play-off. The 118-yearold event has recently drawn criticism after a radical over- haul.

From next year, the Davis Cup will transform into an 18team end-of-season finale played at a neutral venue. Madrid is set to host the inaugural staging of the competition in 2019.

Australia’s top ranking in Asia/Oceania means it is already guaranteed a place in February’s qualifying round but must beet Austria this weekend to be seeded.

Austria, led by French Open finalist and world No.7 Dominic Thiem, must win to sure up a place in the qualifying round.

Thiem will take on de Minaur in Friday’s opening singles rubbers, with Millman likely to face world No.133 Dennis Novak in what shapes as a must-win encounter for Australia.

Both Millman - ranked No.37 after beating Roger Federer in New York last week before falling to eventual champion Novak Djokovic - and No.38 de Minaur enter the play-off with career-high rankings.

But losing both matches on the opening day would leave Australia needing to win the doubles and then Millman defeating Thiem on his favoured surface to send the tie to a deciding fifth rubber.

World No.111 Jordan Thompson has also been included in Australia’s five-man team.