Artem Sitak reveals team for Davis Cup tie against Jamaica

New Zealand Davis Cup captain Artem Sitak has named KP Pannu and Jack Loutit as his singles players for this weekend’s tie against Jamaica, while Ajeet Rai and Finn Reynolds will pair up for the doubles.

The World Group II playoff in Kingston, Jamaica is Sitak’s second as captain and at the draw announcement on Friday (Saturday NZ time) he revealed his hand.

The tie will start on Saturday with Loutit taking on Jamaica No 1 Blaise Bicknell, who has been ranked 306 in the world, but has been out injured for the past six months.

The other rubber on the opening day of the tie is between Pannu and Rowland Phillips, who doesn’t have a singles ranking, but is Jamaica’s most experienced player, making his Davis Cup debut in 2015.

Day two begins with the doubles, as Rai and Reynolds take on Bicknell and John Chin.

That is followed by the reverse singles, where again it will be Pannu and Loutit taking to the court.

However, Sitak will be able to make changes to his team for the second day, as too can Jamaica captain Noel Rutherford.

The winner of this playoff advances to the world Group II tie in September, the loser will compete in their respective regional Group III events later in 2025.