CANADIAN Murray Bennetto has been named in the Hongkong Davis Cup squad for the first time as the territory prepare for their toughest tie in more than 20 years.
The 28-year-old head coach of Hongkong's American Club in Tai Tam has been drafted in to replace injured junior Sven Koehler for the Asia-Oceania Zone Group One first-round clash against Japan at Victoria Park on March 26-28.
Bennetto has lived in the territory for more than four years, three years being enough to make him eligible for Davis Cup competition, and has been training with the Hongkong team for two months.
He joins a squad led by captain Mark Bailey and including Hongkong number one Michael Walker, Colin Grant and Pang Lui. David Ho is the team manager.
Hongkong are expected to name Walker and Grant as their two singles players and the pair could also team up for the doubles.
Bennetto, who has competed in numerous local competitions such as the South China Open, is expected to be a reserve.
Koehler, the territory's top junior player, withdrew from the squad with an Achilles tendon problem sustained during the FILA Hardcourt Championships in Hongkong two weeks ago.
