Kubler to put knee to test in Brisbane
QUEENSLAND tennis player Jason Kubler plans to test the recovery of his troublesome knee early next month ahead of his planned Brisbane International debut.
Kubler, ranked No. 114, has not played his home city tournament because of fears for most of his career that hardcourt play triggers injuries to his knees which have required six bouts of surgery.
The 25- year- old plans to enter qualifying for the Brisbane International if he does not receive one of the three men’s wildcards for the event starting on December 31.
“We believe the knee will respond well to the treatment he started this week and he can start training fully in the next few weeks,’’ Kubler’s manager Belinda Colaneri said.
“He will have two injections, not to the knee area. It’s ( a treatment) used in the AFL and it’s been successful. It’s been a little referred pain from when he rolled his ankle ( at the US Open in September).”
Meanwhile, new Davis Cup tournament director Albert Costa has publicly fanned talks about a merger between the Davis Cup and the new ATP Cup teams event.
Tennis Australia did not respond to a request last night to comment on claims by Costa that the ITF and ATP have been “in contact about doing something together in the future’’.
The ATP Cup, run in partnership with TA, is scheduled to start in January 2020 as an annual 10- day teams event for men in three Australian cities, to include Brisbane and Sydney.
“It would still be the Davis Cup, with the ATP’s participation, perhaps even with ranking points,’’ Costa said.