By Jack Massey
Big serving Victorian Chris Guccione will open Australia’s Davis Cup tie against Chile, which decides which country will progress to the elite 16-nation World Group.
Guccione, the World No.80, was drawn to face Athens Olympic gold medallist Nicolas Massu in the opening match of the tie, which begins in Antofagasta this Friday. Whilst Massu is currently ranked No.108, he has an imposing Davis Cup singles record (18-8), including 9-2 on clay.
However, Australian captain John Fitzgerald is confident the 23-year old left-hander is capable of leading Australia to victory in the absence of Davis Cup stalwart Lleyton Hewitt.
“I think he’ll handle it pretty well,” Fitzgerald said.
“ When he was a lot younger than this, he handled a fifth match in a Davis Cup situation and came through for us (against Switzerland in February, 2006).”
"I have a lot of faith in Chris and a lot of faith in this team, not just for this tie but moving forward,” he added.
Peter Luczak will follow Guccione on to court, playing 11 th ranked and Beijing Olympic runner-up Fernando Gonzalez. Despite only playing two tournaments since the French Open in May, due to a fractured pelvis, Luczak is looking forward to the challenge.
“We know we are not the favorites. We don’t mind that, it frees us up to just go for it and see what happens,” said the No.177.
The relatively unknown doubles pairing of Robert Smeets and Carsten Ball, respectively ranked No.146 and No.189 in the world, have the unenviable task of facing Gonzalez and Massu in the doubles.
Bernard Tomic, who was hoping to become Australia’s youngest ever Davis Cup player, Sam Groth and Brydan Klein were the unlucky players who missed selection in the squad.