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Journalism of Courage
Australian Davis Cup captain John Fitzgerald is undecided on his second singles player for the matches against India this weekend at Memorial Drive.
World No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt is one of the singles players, but Fitzgerald said today he hasn’t decided whether Wayne Arthurs or Scott Draper will play the other opening singles match on Friday. The draw will be held Thursday. The winner of the best-of-five series will remain in the 16-team World Group next year.
“They have played a lot of tennis on the American circuit, most of our guys – particularly Lleyton,” Fitzgerald said.
“But Wayne has had a lot of tennis and Scott also. They probably don’t need as much practice as normal so keeping fresh is a big part of their preparation.”
Power server Arthurs has won three matches and lost two Davis Cup singles matches, while Draper has two singles losses, both against Argentina earlier this year.
Australia’s doubles team will feature Todd Woodbridge with either Hewitt or, most likely, Arthurs.
On Sunday, Indian captain Ramesh Krishnan announced that three-time 2002 Grand Slam doubles champion Mahesh Bhupati will miss the qualifier because of a shoulder injury.
A stalwart of Indian Davis Cup teams since 1995, Bhupati is the No. 4-ranked doubles player in the world. He has been replaced in the squad by 25-year-old Vishal Uppal.
India’s team also includes 22nd-ranked doubles player Leander Paes, Rohan Bopanna and Sunil Kumar Sipaeya.
