By Chris Soderstrom
Carsten Ball was selected for the Australia’s Davis Cup squad yesterday and is in line to play next month’s crucial play-off tie against Chile in Antofagasta.
The left-hander, currently ranked at No. 188, was rewarded for his surge up the rankings by Optus Australian Davis Cup selectors. The 21-year-old has great pedigree, as the son of former Australian Davis Cup player and No. 63 Syd Ball.
“They’ve invited me down there ( Chile) so I will be a little bit more experienced and a little bit more ready to go,” said Ball, who has much to smile about despite losing to Serbian Viktor Troicki in the US Open first round.
“I’m looking forward to maybe fighting to get a spot on the team but I will just be happy to be there and supporting everybody.”
Ball was included in the squad after Davis Cup stalwart Lleyton Hewitt elected to have surgery on his troublesome hip ruling him out for the rest of the season.
“His results in the last six months warrant his inclusion. He’s just turned 21 and he’s got his career ahead of him, I look forward to working with him,” said Optus Davis Cup captain John Fitzgerald.
The full Davis Cup squad won’t be finalised until the end of next week.