Tokyo tennis Olympians and college players join Davis Cup veteran in New Zealand's five-strong team for next week's World Group 1 tie against the Korea Republic in the United States.
New Zealand's Marcus Daniell (left) and Michael Venus will be part of Davis Cup tie against Korea Republic. Photo: John Cowpland/Photosport Ltd 2021
Experienced singles player Rubin Statham will spearhead the team playing in his 32nd Davis Cup tie for New Zealand alongside world number 21 ranked doubles player Michael Venus and 43rd ranked Marcus Daniell, the Olympic bronze medal winning team from Tokyo.
America-based college players Finn Reynolds and Isaac Becroft round out the team for the tie to be held on the grass courts at the Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island.
New Zealand was unable to host the tie on 18 and 19 September on home soil due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The chosen venue is close to New York, where the US Open takes place this week.
Tennis NZ high performance manager Christophe Lambert replaces regular captain Alistair Hunt who is sitting out the tie, due to Tennis NZ Covid protocols restricting travel numbers overseas.
Lambert is confident the team can deliver.
"Our Olympic bronze medallists (Mike and Marcus) will lead the team with their experience. Rubin is one of the most achieved players in the New Zealand team and we have two new young guys who are going to discover Davis Cup and who are very good additions to the team." Lambert said.
The tie is an opportunity for New Zealand to potentially qualify for the 2022 Davis Cup Qualifiers. However, it will be a difficult assignment with the Korean team expected to be spearheaded by top 100 ranked singles player Soowoo Kwon.
The eight highest-ranked winners of the World Group I ties will automatically progress to the 2022 Qualifiers, where some of the biggest tennis nations in the world will compete for a spot in the 2022 Finals.
The four lowest-ranked winners will take part in an additional knock-out tie in November, with the two winners progressing to the 2022 Qualifiers and two losers contesting the 2022 World Group I Play-offs. The losing nations from the World Group I ties will compete in the World Group I Play-Offs in 2022.