The AEGON GB Davis Cup squad to face Lithuania away in Europe/Africa Zone Group II has today been announced with the squad comprising of Jamie Baker, Dan Evans, Ross Hutchins, Colin Fleming, Ken Skupski and James Ward.
John Lloyd AEGON GB Davis Cup Team Captain, said of the selection:
“This is a real opportunity for some of our younger players to gain valuable Davis Cup experience. I’m confident that they all have the ability to perform at this level, and a passion to represent their country.”
Skupski, the current British no.1 men's doubles player, is currently ranked no.53 in the world and reached a career high ranking of no.50 towards the end of 2009.
Along with regular doubles partner Colin Fleming, who made his Davis Cup debut in last year's tie with the Ukraine, the pair have started the 2010 season by reaching the semi-final of the $398,250 Aircel Chennai Open in India before claiming their first main draw victory at a Grand Slam after defeating Yen-Hsun Lu (TPE) and Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) 6-4, 7-5 in the first round of the Australian Open.
Hutchins, who is currently ranked no.54 in the current ATP doubles world rankings, will be hoping to add to his previous Davis Cup appearances against Argentina and Austria in 2008 and more recently against Poland and the Ukraine in 2009.
The British doubles no.2 has already made a strong start to 2010 by finishing runner-up in the doubles event at the Medibank International in Sydney in January.
Also featuring in the squad is Glasgow born Jamie Baker who has experienced Davis Cup victory with a win over Agustin Calleri in the 2008 tie against Argentina in Buenos Aires.
James Ward and Dan Evans make up the final two places in the squad after holding the British no.3 and 4 singles rankings respectively and both competed in the qualifying draw for the Australian Open last month.
The final quartet will be announced on the 23rd February ahead of the tie that takes place from 5th – 7th March 2010 at the Vitas Gerulaitis Memorial Tennis Centre, Vilnius.
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Image - Colin Fleming and Ken Skupski by Getty Images