3 teenagers named for Australian Davis Cup team

SYDNEY - Australian captain Pat Rafter has named teenage trio Nick Kyrgios, Thanasi Kokkinakis and Jordan Thompson in his Davis Cup team to face France in the World Group first round, local media reported on Tuesday.

Rafter on Tuesday named 17-year-old Kyrgios, 18-year-old Kokkinakis and 19-year-old Thompson, as well as Aussie tennis veteran Lleyton Hewitt and doubles specialist Chris Guccione as his team for the first-round indoor claycourt tie in La Roche-sur- Yon, western France starting on Friday January 31.

"Lleyton will definitely play doubles, 100 percent," Rafter told reporters on Tuesday.

"We think that's a pretty critical tie. Normally always is."

Rafter believes his team has a chance of an upset.

"You never know, Davis Cup has a tradition of throwing up some upsets. When you've got youth and energy on your side, you have passion; you always have a chance," he said.