Full Speed Ahead With Hewitt Back
Sydney Morning Herald
Tuesday March 28, 2006
LLEYTON Hewitt is assured of a court speed closer to his liking and, with his return, captain John Fitzgerald is equipped with a full-strength team for next week's Davis Cup quarter-final against Belarus at Kooyong.
The man to drop out is Peter Luczak, Australia's singles spearhead against Switzerland last month. The difficult decision for Fitzgerald did not involve the venue, or the Kooyong version of the Rebound Ace surface that is already playing more quickly than that which enraged Hewitt at Melbourne Park.Fitzgerald had to choose between Luczak and final-day Geneva hero Chris Guccione. Clearly, room had to be made for Hewitt, who is back after he missed the first round against the Swiss as retaliation, mostly, for the slowness of the Australian Open courts.Luczak is thus in Sweden with his pregnant girlfriend rather than preparing for the first Cup tie in his home city since the 2003 final. "They're both fabulous young individuals, they're such quality kids, these guys," said Fitzgerald of Luczak and Guccione. "I was so proud of them in Switzerland. Peter's gone to concentrate on his claycourt season now and he's a very integral part of our plans, and he'll be playing for Australia again." But not just yet, for another Melburnian, the 168th-ranked Guccione, was judged to be the better hardcourt option against what is effectively a two-man Belarussian team of Max Mirnyi and Vladimir Voltchkov for the tie starting on Friday week. Mirnyi is ranked 55th but has been as high as 18 and is a former No.1 in doubles.Australia are likely to nominate Hewitt and Guccione for the singles, plus Wayne Arthurs and Paul Hanley in doubles, with the option of using Arthurs on day three if required.
© 2006 Sydney Morning Herald