World Number 36 and former world junior number 1 Daria Gavrilova, who has just become Australian citizen, will team up with Nick Kyrgios for the Australia Green team at next month’s Hopman Cup in Perth.
Twenty-one year-old Gavrilova, who won the US Open Junior title in 2010, has risen more than 195 spots in the world ranking during a successful 2015 season in which she beat Maria Sharapova in Miami claiming her first win over a top-10 player. Gavrilova then beat Ana Ivanovic in the third set tie-break on her 8th match point to reach the semifinal in Rome where she lost to Sharapova. During the summer Gavrilova beat Lucie Safarova to reach the third round at the Roger’s Cup in Toronto.
“I am excited to be heading to Perth. It’s the first time I am going to represent Australia in a team event. I am sure it’s going to be really fun. It’s the first time I am going to represent Australia in a team event. I really like the diamond trophy. I have my eyes on it.”, said Gavrilova.
Kyrgios, who reached the Australian Open quarter final in 2015, said about the partnership with Gavrilova.
“I think we will go well. I have known Daria for a long time. We played juniors together. I know she is a great competitor. She makes a lot of balls which is really good”, said Kyrgios
The 2016 Hopman Cup features three top ten players and six Grand Slam champions in singles, doubles and mixed events, five Grand Slam finalists and five Grand Slam singles finalists. The major stars will be World Number 2 and recent Davis Cup champion Andy Murray, World Number 1 Serena Williams, world number 9 and 2015 Roland Garros finalist Lucie Safarova, Gael Monfils, Lleyton Hewitt and Casey Dellacqua.
This is the the line-up for the 2016 edition of the Hopman Cup:
Australia Green: Nick Kyrgios and Casey Dellacqua
Australia Gold: Casey Dellacqua and Lleyton Hewitt
Czech Republic: Lucie Safarova and Jiri Vesely
France: Gael Monfils and Caroline Garcia
Germany: Sabine Lisicki and Alexander Zverev
Great Britain: Andy Murray and Hether Watson
Ukraine: Elina Svitolina and Alexander Dolgopolov
USA: Serena Williams and Jack Sock
