The Australian Junior Davis Cup team has defeated top seeds Japan in the Asia Oceania qualifying for Junior Davis Cup in New Delhi, India.
Thanasi Kokkinakis came back from a set down, holding on to win 4-6 6-3 7-5 over Japan’s Takashi Saito, and Nicolas Kyrgios (ACT) defeated Yoshithito Nishioka 6-4 6-3. The doubles was not played.
Finishing in top place will be an advantage when seedings for the world final, to be held in Mexico in September, are determined.
“It was an excellent accomplishment for the Australian team, achieving all the goals they set for the event on arrival,” team captain Milo Bradley said.
“Despite all the challenges faced in a teams event, the boys worked together well, made sacrifices, and helped each other to achieve the desired result of making it to the Junior Davis Cup world finals in Mexico.
“The boys not only had to adapt to a different environment, but also the difficulties that come with such an environment – sickness, heat and pollution, as well as the various physical injuries all three have endured at some point.
“Australia should be proud of Thanasi, Nick and Blake (Mott, NSW), they are real quiet achievers,” Bradley continued.
Junior Davis Cup by BNP Paribas is a prestigious international team event for boys aged 16 and under.
Australia has won Junior Davis Cup twice in the past five years. AIS Coach Ray Ruffels led the 2009 champion team of Jason Kubler, Luke Saville and Joey Swaysland. In 2007 Bernard Tomic, Mark Verryth and Alex Sanders won for Australia.
Final placings for the qualifying event were as follows: (Bracket denotes seeding)
1 Australia (2), 2 Japan (1), 3 Hong Kong(5), 4 Thailand (8), 5 China (6),
6 Korea (7), 7 Uzbekistan (3), 8 Chinese Taipei, 9 Syria, 10 Indonesia, 11 Malaysia, 12 Philippines, 13 India, 14 Sri Lanka, 15 New Zealand,
16 Kazakhstan.
Asia Oceania qualifying for Junior Fed Cup by BNP Paribas will commence this week, with Ashleigh Barty (Qld), Belinda Woolcock (VIC) and Brooke Rischbeith (SA) representing Australia. - source: www.tennis.com.au
