IT has seemed a world away since Spain lifted the 2019 Davis Cup. While the 2020 edition was ultimately cancelled and had to be postponed until 2021, it gives tennis fans extra time to work out what teams might look like when it recommences.

Draft Central will take a look at various nations over the break and see what the team might look like. Today’s team is Kazakhstan with a young up and coming star headlining the team and a more experienced name also among the mix likely to compete in the Davis Cup.

TEAM:

#50 Alexander Bublik
#89 Mikhail Kukushkin
#131 D Aleksandr Nedovyesov
#771 D Andrey Golubev

The Russian-born talent has risen up through the ranks and is an exciting player to watch and is currently the highest ranked played in Kazakhstan at 50. Alexander Bublik has taken some big coups throughout his short career and while he still has some areas of improvement when it comes to capitalising on his serve has displayed a strong skillset. The 23-year-old has shown plenty of promise and is a familiar face on the Davis Cup circuit making him an easy selection having competed early in the year. Bublik is a tough competitor that is able to hold his own especially on hard court and is strong off the first serve.

The next likely candidate is the experienced, Mikhail Kukushkin with the right hander able to combat his opponent with his nous and court coverage. Despite currently being ranked at 89 in the world, Kukushkin has reached as high as 39 last year highlighting his ability to mix it with the best. He is relatively strong on the serve, able to dish up his fair share of aces and is more than capable of saving break points highlighting his grit and determination.

Andrey Golubev and Aleksandr Nedovyseov are the likely combination to take the doubles mantle with the two a tried and tested combo. The two took the court together in the previous Davis Cup and would be a handy partnership once again given their experience together. Despite Golubev sitting lower in the rankings at 771 expect the likes of Nedovyseov to lead the way thanks to his superior ranking at 131. He has reached as high as 115 with the 33-year-old able to impose himself and make full use of his powerful right arm.