Mikhail Kukushkin: It is an honor for me to represent Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan's Mikhail Kukushkin insists he is willing to do it all for for the Kazakh Davis Cup team as it is an honor for him to represent his country.
The 31-year-old suited up twice for Kazakhstan on Tuesday and led his nation to their first victory at the inaugural Davis Cup Finals.
Kukushkin, ranked at No. 67 in the world, handed a straight-set defeat to Davis Cup debutant Botic Van de Zandschulp of Netherlands 6-2 6-2 in the opening rubber of the tie.
Alexander Bublik failed to beat Robin Haase in the second tie and secure the win for his side so Kazakh Davis Cup Team Captain Dias Doskarayev asked Kukushkin to play the doubles tie despite not being originally scheduled to do so.
After accepting the captain's request, Kukushkin teamed up with Bublik and the two beat Jean-Julien Rojer and Haase 6-4 7-6 (2) in the decisive rubber.
"It’s an honour for me to represent my country, and when the captain asked me to play twice, of course I would go out there and play,” Kukushkin said, per the Davis Cup Finals website. “To be able to win today is such an important first match for us to beat a great team like Netherlands, and we’re so happy.”
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/35kbjJv
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