Captain springs surprise with singles selection
New Zealand captain Alistair Hunt has bypassed Rubin Statham for today’s singles rubbers in the Davis Statham, 32, has won more singles matches in the Davis Cup than any other New Zealander, but Hunt has instead gone with Ajeet Rai and Finn Tearney for the matches.
As expected, Marcus Daniell and Artem Sitak will kick off tomorrow with the doubles rubber, followed by the reverse singles.
Statham hasn’t played an ATP or ITF match for a year, because of a hip operation he needed and has only just started playing again.
Hunt has decided to go with Tearney, who’s no longer a professional player on the Tour, and the up and coming Rai.
‘‘It’s been a tough week training for all three guys, they’ve all worked really hard,’’ Hunt said at the draw announcement yesterday.
‘‘They’re all playing well and I just think for us at the moment with circumstances, the preferred guys [today] are Ajeet and Finn.
‘‘Rubin is available if we need him for Saturday and that’s how we’ve looked at it at this stage.’’
Tearney will play Jordi Munoz, who is ranked 1234 in the world in the first rubber, from 4pm.
Rai will take on Luis David Martinez, a doubles specialist and has lost his last seven singles matches, dating back to April 2018.
Even though Statham would obviously prefer to be playing, he’s happy with the situation for this tie.
‘‘In this circumstance it’s completely fine and it’s the right thing for the team as a whole,’’ Statham said.
‘‘But come Saturday, I’ll be ready to play if need be.’’
Statham played four matches in a money tournament in Bali last week, which he won, and feels he’s progressing nicely after his year off.
‘‘I’ve been building back into competitive tennis and have been playing pretty well,’’ he said.
‘‘I’m increasing match play and with the hip surgery last year I’m getting back into shape.’’
For Tearney this is a rare comeback into the big time for him, as the 29-year-old has a full-time job for a property development company and is living in Wanaka.
But while he’s no longer a pro, he’s currently the country’s best singles player, winning the New Zealand Championships and the Te Anau Invitational tournament over the last couple of months.
‘‘I didn’t have too many expectations. I came into it because I like to spend my summer playing tennis,’’ Tearney said.
‘‘It keeps me in shape and gets me in the gym every day, before or after work.
‘‘It was really nice to get the callup,’’ he added, referring to making the Davis Cup team.
‘‘I’m not on the Tour full-time, but I was still working hard off court. I wasn’t playing in those tournaments for fun, I still wanted to win.
‘‘But I’m loving my job, I had to clear this with my boss and he was great about it.’’
However, once the Davis Cup is over, Tearney goes back to his day job.
‘‘[Tennis] is not my main priority, but I love tennis and when I move back up to Auckland I’ll keep hitting and do some coaching when I can.
‘‘But my job is my No 1 priority.’’