Australia take on the USA in their 2017 Davis Cup World Group quarter-final tie at the Pat Rafter Arena in Brisbane from Friday.
This is the 47th time the two Davis Cup giants are meeting with their last clash coming in the first round last year, which the USA won. The Americans crushed Switzerland in their opening round this year after Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka did not feature for the latter. On the other hand, the hosts eased past the Czech Republic to give themselves a chance to play the quarter-final at home.
The onus to deliver for Lleyton Hewitt's team will be on Nick Kyrgios, who is the only top-30 player in the side when compared to four in the opponent's camp. It will be Jordan Thompson though, who will be opening the hosts' campaign against in-form Jack Sock, who is expected to lead the show for the USA.
Sock has been in rich vein of form, winning two titles in the ongoing season and also reached the final stages of Indian Wells and Miami Masters 1000 tournaments. The fourth rubber between Kyrgios and Sock is going to be crucial and also one of the most anticipated matches of the tie.
Australia are the clear favourites in the doubles rubber with world number two John Peers partnering with Sam Groth to face USA's Sam Querrey and Steve Johnson. However, their progress in the World Group will depend on how well Kyrgios and Thompson react to challenges from Sock and John Isner.
TV Schedule
Singapore: Hub Sports 1
Australia: Channel 7
US: Tennis Channel
Team News
Australia: Nick Kyrgios (MS 16, MD 132), Jordan Thompson (MS 79, MD 118), Sam Groth (MS 198, MD 51), John Peers (MD 2)
USA: Jack Sock (MSD 15, MD 18), John Isner (MS 23, MD 54), Sam Querrey (MS 25, MD 60), Steve Johnson (MS 29, MD 75)
