Thanasi Kokkinakis returns to Australia’s Davis Cup squad as Luke Saville prepares to make debut

Thanasi Kokkinakis’ red-hot Australian summer has earned him a long-awaited return to Australia’s Davis Cup squad

Thanasi Kokkinakis, with Nick Kyrgios after winning the Australian Open doubles, is back in Australia’s Davis Cup squad. Picture: AFP

Thanasi Kokkinakis will return to Australia’s Davis Cup team next month, more than six years after last representing his country in the team competition.

But Nick Kyrgios, who Kokkinakis won the Australian Open doubles title with last week, won’t be part of the squad that faces Hungary in the Davis Cup qualifier in Sydney on March 4 and 5.

Alex de Minaur, Alexei Popyrin and doubles specialists John Peers and Luke Saville, who is making his Davis Cup debut, round out captain Lleyton Hewitt’s team.

Finally rid of injury, Kokkinakis will be in contention for both a singles and doubles spot after also claiming his maiden ATP Tour singles title at the Adelaide International before the Australian Open.

The 25-year-old is expected to return to the top 100 next week for the first time in six years.

Thanasi Kokkinakis, pictured after winning the Australian Open doubles title with Nick Kyrgios, is back in Australia’s Davis Cup squad. Picture: Getty Images

Kokkinakis last played in the Davis Cup against Great Britain in the 2015 World Group semi-finals, where he lost to Andy Murray but defeated Dan Evans.

“I’m obviously stoked to get the call up from Lleyton. It’s been a long time since I’ve played Davis Cup,” Kokkinakis said.

“It’s a pretty cool feeling putting on those colours and playing for Australia. That atmosphere is unmatched.

“It’s a great reward for the summer I’ve had, for me and my team, and all the hard work I’ve put in.”

Australia’s second-ranked singles player, James Duckworth, wasn’t considered because of a hip injury that required surgery, while Australian Open doubles finalists Matt Ebden and Max Purcell were overlooked.

Thanasi Kokkinakis won his last Davis Cup match over Great Britain’s Dan Evans in the 2015 World Group semi-finals. Picture: Getty Images

Purcell and Hewitt have a frosty relationship, including the former criticising the dual grand slam champion for not telling him during the ATP Cup that he missed out on an Australian Open singles wildcard.

Australia will qualify for the end-of-year Davis Cup Finals if it can defeat Hungary, which is led by world No.39 Marton Fucsovics, along with Zsombor Piros, Fabian Marozsan, Mate Valkusz and Peter Fajta.

They met in the 2021 Davis Cup Finals in December, with Australia prevailing 2-1 and de Minaur edging out Fucsovics in a tense three-setter in the No.1 singles.

“All the boys love playing at Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney. It’s a special place,” Hewitt said.

“So much is on the line for this qualifying tie against Hungary. It gives us the opportunity to go through to the Davis Cup Finals at the end of the year.

Luke Saville is set to make his Davis Cup debut for Australia. Picture: Getty Images

“It’s going to be really important to try and keep some of that momentum from the Australian summer – we had some really good results.”

Saville will become Australia’s 113th Davis Cup player after playing in the ATP Cup the past two years.

“Playing Davis Cup for Australia, to don the green and gold, has always been a childhood dream of mine,” Saville said.

“To get this opportunity to represent my country on home soil is absolutely incredible.”

Tickets to the Davis Cup qualifier go on sale on Tuesday from noon via Ticketmaster.com.au/Davis Cup.

Prices are $29 for adults, $25 for concessions and kids are free.