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18 April 2012 | Tennis SA

Matt Turner    |    Messenger

TRINITY Titans’ tennis young gun Li Tu has earned his first call-up to represent Australia at Junior Davis Cup level.

Li, ranked in the top few for his age in the country, was last week among two South Australians chosen in the Aussie squad for the Asia Oceania qualifying series in Bendigo from April 24-29.

It comes after his impressive season for the Titans, during which he played No. 1 single in their run to claiming the Metro State League premiership and was part of the Trinity team which competed in the inaugural National Tennis League.

The other Croweater named in the squad was Somerton Tennis Club’s Thanasi Kokkinakis.

Li and Thanasi will be joined in the Australian team by Victorian Daniel Guccione, the cousin of big-hitter Chris Guccione.

Former doubles champion Mark Woodforde will captain the squad.

“Thanasi and Li have been working hard on the Australian Pro Tour circuit in recent months and I hope they can bring their match play experience to Bendigo,” Woodforde said last week.

“I’m looking forward to working with the boys.”

Li could play for Australia at the Junior Davis Cup world finals in Barcelona in September if the team qualifies next week.

The top four from the Asia Oceania group will progress.

Trinity captain Mark Mullins said Li had “pretty much every shot in the book (and) could hit balls from anywhere”.

“In the couple of years that I’ve played with him he always seems to step up to the mark no matter who the opposition is.

“It’s a really interesting time for him and hopefully selection into the (Junior) Davis Cup squad can give him a leg up to taking that next step into senior ranks.”