Cairns in players' sights
AUSTRALIAN Davis Cup coach Todd Woodbridge says the US hard court season provides the perfect opportunity for an emerging player to grab a place on the squad for September's world group tie at the new Cairns Regional Tennis Centre.
The battle is intensifying for places on the Davis Cup team for the critical tie against Belgium, with victory returning Australia to the top 16 nations.
The final team does not have to be named until mid-September.
"There are places available," Woodbridge (pictured) said.
"This is the perfect opportunity for one of our guys to step up during the US hard court season and earn a place in the squad or even on the team."
Big-serving Carsten Ball, who won his first ATP challenger title at Lexington in Kentucky on Sunday, is the latest player to put his hand up.
Ball came back from 4-1 down in the second set to beat American Jesse Levine 6-4 7-6(2), lifting his ranking to 108.
Former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt remains the leading contender for the team and is expected to step up his US Open campaign on the hard courts of Washington early next month.
Australia’s second-highest ranked player, Peter Luczak, is fresh from a quarter-final appearance in Poland last week and will play the Allianz Swiss Open in Gstaad this week.
Chris Guccione is slowly working his way back from a leg injury and won a qualifying match against talented young American Ryan Harrison early yesterday, putting him one win away from qualifying for the main draw of the LA Open.
-- Tickets for the Australia v Belgium tie at the Cairns Regional Tennis Centre go on sale on August 6. Three-day series packages are available for $94.90 (adults), $73.90 (concession) and $24.90 (children aged 3-16). Single session tickets are $34.90 (adults), $27.90 (concession) and $9.90 (children).
Tickets are available by phoning Ticketek on 132 849, through www.ticketek.com.au or at the customer care desk, Stockland Earlville, 537 Mulgrave Rd.
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