Tennis: Hewitt, Kyrgios to lead Aussies against Czechs at Davis Cup

Australia's Nick Kyrgios (left) and Lleyton Hewitt of the Singapore Slammers play a shot against Indian Aces tennis player Rohan Bopanna and Switzerland's Roger Federer during their International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) nen's doubles match in Ne
Australia's Nick Kyrgios (left) and Lleyton Hewitt of the Singapore Slammers play a shot against Indian Aces tennis player Rohan Bopanna and Switzerland's Roger Federer during their International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) nen's doubles match in New Delhi on Dec 7, 2014. -- PHOTO: AFP

SYDNEY (AFP) - Australia on Tuesday named Lleyton Hewitt and Nick Kyrgios in a full-strength team for next month's Davis Cup World Group showdown with the Czech Republic.

The first-round tie, in Ostrava from March 6-8, will see Australia take on a Czech team without stars Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek.

Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic are the likely singles players for Australia with veteran Hewitt and Sam Groth rounding out the line-up under new captain Wally Masur.

"The boys are all raring to go and excited to be back competing in Davis Cup after a big Australian summer and a lot of matches," Masur said.

"It's not an easy task to face one of the very best teams in the first round. This is going to be a tough tie but the team is committed to doing their best and we expect a very competitive weekend."

Emerging youngsters Thanasi Kokkinakis and Alex Bolt will also travel with the squad, which will prepare for the tie with a training camp in Prague.

Lukas Rosol is spearheading the Czech team after world number eight Berdych said he would give the tie a miss. Veteran Stepanek is injured. Both were pivotal players in their Davis Cup-winning teams of 2012 and 2013.

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