Hewitt to kick off Davis Cup

Australian veteran Lleyton Hewitt has been drawn to play China’s top-ranked player Zhang Ze in the opening singles match of the Davis Cup Asia-Oceania first round tie in Geelong at an entertaining event at the Ocean Grove Surf Lifesaving Club today.

Hewitt, who turns 31 later this month, is playing in his 32nd Davis Cup tie for Australia, equalling the record set by former teammate Todd Woodbridge.

Friday’s other opening singles match pits rising Australian star Bernard Tomic against China’s Wu Di.

Australian captain Pat Rafter has handed Hewitt a busy schedule.

The former US Open and Wimbledon champion will also play in Saturday’s doubles clash alongside Chris Guccione against Zhang and Li Zhe.

The reverse singles are on Sunday in the tie at the Geelong Lawn Tennis Club.

Next step for the winner of this weekend’s tie is the second round of Asia-Oceania qualifying in April, with the winner progressing to the World Group Play-off in September.

The teams arrived on the beach at Ocean Grove surfer-style in Kombi vans, with local long boarders forming a guard of honour behind the players.

A mini-ironmen event featuring the club’s lifesavers determined Hewitt as the player to kick off the event on Friday as a large crowd of Ocean Grove tennis fans watched on.

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