Enjoying for the primary time for the reason that 2023 Davis Cup remaining, Australia begins its 2024 marketing campaign in Valencia within the Davis Cup Finals Group Stage, opening in opposition to France.
Valencia, Spain, 10 September 2024 | Matt Trollope
Australia begins its quest for a twenty ninth Davis Cup title when a powerful green-and-gold squad takes to the court docket this week for the Davis Cup Finals Group Stage.
Enjoying in Valencia in Group B alongside hosts Spain, plus France and Czech Republic, Australia is bidding to succeed in a 3rd consecutive remaining within the group competitors – and hopefully go one higher.
Australia begins in opposition to France on Tuesday at 4pm native time (Wednesday 12am AEST), earlier than taking over Czech Republic on the similar time two days later, and Spain on Sunday (11am native time, 7pm AEST).
Regardless of Alex de Minaur having to withdraw as a consequence of harm, Australia is represented by Alexei Popyrin, Jordan Thompson, Thanasi Kokkinakis, Max Purcell and Matt Ebden – all gamers in wonderful current kind.
“It makes it more durable, I suppose, however it’s downside to have, that’s for positive. I’d quite it that approach,” Australian captain Lleyton Hewitt mentioned about choosing the group from such a powerful present crop of gamers.
“All these boys at all times know that that is going to be a group effort, and it has been the final couple of years for us to make a run deep into the competitors as properly.
“We’ve been ready to try this properly, and the camaraderie’s nice, I believe we’ve obtained an ideal Australian tradition going as properly amongst all of the boys, not simply the fellows which can be taking part in, it’s all of the assist employees and the hitting companions and everybody that’s on the ties as properly.
“Clearly it’s at all times a troublesome resolution [regarding De Minaur’s hip injury], and Alex has performed some unbelievable stuff in Davis Cup during the last three or 4 years now.
“However he’s been battling for a short time since Wimbledon, and he hasn’t actually been near 100 per cent, even on the US Open, which was apparent at instances all through that. So it was at all times going to be a large problem for him to stand up to play right here.
“He was determined to, and yeah, ultimately it actually wasn’t a lot of a selection.”
Australia has not performed since its 2023 remaining loss to Italy, and because of making that remaining, instantly entered the 2024 Davis Cup Finals Group Stage with out having to play a qualifying tie.
France presents a troublesome opening project, represented by top-25 gamers Ugo Humbert and Arthur Fils, big-hitting Arthur Rinderknech, and Grand Slam doubles champions Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Edouard Roger-Vasselin.
But the French would suppose equally of the problem Australia presents.
Popyrin not too long ago gained the Montreal Masters and is recent off defeating Novak Djokovic on the US Open to succeed in the fourth spherical of a serious for the primary time.
Purcell and Thompson ended the US Open as doubles champions, after Thompson superior to the fourth spherical of the singles. Kokkinakis shocked Greek famous person Stefanos Tsitsipas within the first spherical in New York.
Just some weeks earlier, Ebden mixed with John Friends to win doubles gold on the Paris 2024 Olympics.
“It’s a troublesome group, however I believe any match in Davis Cup is hard. We again ourselves in opposition to anybody although, as properly,” Hewitt mentioned.
“We’ve been to the finals the final two years, we all know what to anticipate. We all know what we’ve obtained to do that week, and as I mentioned, these guys put within the onerous yards, not simply this week main into this tie however all year long as properly, to provide themselves the perfect alternative of taking part in properly and getting career-high rankings. So that they’ll be stuffed with confidence after we begin tomorrow.
“I’ve obtained a lot perception within the 5 guys sitting up right here with me, that we’re able to doing that, and so they know that. They understand how a lot confidence I’ve in them as people, and I believe they’ve all had stellar careers. This yr on a private observe as properly – some large highlights.
“I count on us to go on the market and compete onerous and play properly, and I believe we’re shot.”
