The Australian team coached by new Australian Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt will host the Davis Cup World Group first round match against the USA at Kooyong, the former home of the Australian Open, from 4th to 6th March. The match will be played on a grass court. It will be one of the most intriguing matches of the first round of the World Groups because the USA and Australia are the two most successful teams in Davis Cup history . The USA won the Davis Cup title a record 32 times, although they have not won this title since 2007 when the USA beat Russia 4-1 in Portland. Australia is ranked second with 28 wins, although they triumphed for the last time in 2003 when they beat Spain 3-1 at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.
The Melbourne complex of Kooyong hosted 10 Davis Cup matches, including the two finals won by Australia in 1983 and 1986 against Sweden.
Australia played at home against the US team for the last time in 1993 when the Aussies won 4-1 in the first round. It will be the 46th head-to-head match between Australia and the USA. These two teams met for the last time in a Davis Cup final in 1990 when the USA beat Australia 3-2 in St. Petersburg.
This match will mark the debut of Lleyton Hewitt as Australian Davis Cup captain. Hewitt will play his last tournament at next January’s Australian Open.
