The Davis Cup first round match between Australia and Czech Republic will be hosted on a hardcourt at the Kooyong Lawn Tennis in the Melbourne suburb of Kooyong from 3to 5 February 2017.
The “spiritual home” of Australian tennis played host to memorable Davis Cup matches including the epic 1986 Final where Australia defeated two-time defending champions from Sweden 3-2.
Kooyong has a capacity of 8500 spectators and hosted the Australian Open from 1972 to 1987 before the tournament moved to the hard courts in Melbourne Park in 1988.
This historic facility is now the home of an exhibition tournament in the week before the first Grand Slam tournament of the year.
“We are absolutely delighted that Davis Cup tennis will return to Kooyong next February. With the Priceline Pharmacy Kooyong Classic and the Davis Cup, it promises to be another amazing month at the spiritual home of tennis – the Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club”, said President of Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club Peter Carew.
Australia and Czech Republic will meet for the ninth time in Davis Cup history. The Oceanian team leads 7-1 in their previous eight Davis Cup meetings over Czech Republic, including a 3-2 win in their most recent tie in Ostrava in March 2015, when Thanasi Kokkinakis overcame a two-set deficit to win his first Davis Cup match rubber against Lukas Rosol. Bernard Tomic won both his singles matches. In their previous eight ties, one has been played on hardcourt, four on grass and three on clay. Australia played against Czechoslovakia at Kooyong in 1973 in an inter-zonal semifinal on grass. An Australian team featuring Rod Laver, John Newcombe, Ken Rosewall won 4-1.
In this year’s edition of the Davis Cup Czech Republic beat Germany in the first round before losing to France in the quarter finals, while Australia was knocked out by the USA in the first round at Kooyong on grass last March.
The winner of the match between Australia and Czech Republic will face either the USA and Switzerland.
“To be back in Kooyong for Davis Cupi s a bonus for us. We feel this venue gives us the best possible chance against what will likely be a strong Czec team. Kooyong holds so much history and provides a handy option for both teams straight after the Aussie Open. We were pumped to secure our spot in the World Group last September and the boys are more eager to get off to a good start in 2017”, said Australia’s Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt.
