World No.9 Alex de Minaur’s shock inclusion has lifted Australia’s hopes towards the USA within the Davis Cup quarterfinals in Spain.
Malaga, Spain, 21 November 2024 | Darren Walton, AAP
Ironman Alex de Minaur is a shocking late addition in a mighty increase to Australia’s Davis Cup quarterfinal hopes towards the USA in Malaga.
De Minaur was not listed in Australia’s preliminary crew to face the USA on Thursday night time earlier than the world No.9 declared his availability after a “particular” apply session with retiring legend Rafael Nadal.
After a gruelling however triumphant season dogged by a hip harm, it had been anticipated that De Minaur would sit out the Davis Cup Finals after dropping all three of his matches ultimately week’s ATP Finals in Turin.
“Look, I’m very pleased to be again right here. Clearly, it’s been a troublesome yr with accidents, however I’m feeling quite a bit higher and I’m feeling fairly match and able to compete,” he stated.
“So clearly if my physique was holding up, I used to be at all times going to place my hand up and be prepared to return right here and play for Australia.”
De Minaur is bound to be further impressed when he hits the court docket on Thursday.
After changing into the primary Australian since Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt in 2005 to succeed in three consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinals, the 25-year-old had the honour of hitting with Nadal forward of the previous world No.1’s remaining match this week.
“It was a particular second for positive,” De Minaur stated. “I’ve been lucky sufficient to share the court docket with Rafa a pair occasions, and I’ve hit with him a pair occasions, nevertheless it’s at all times further particular, this probably being the final dance.
“So it was good to get one final hit with him.”
Demon 🤝 Rafa #DavisCup pic.twitter.com/2ftdhkFcYg
— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) November 17, 2024
Workforce USA boasts a formidable line-up led by 2024 US Open runner-up and world No.5 Taylor Fritz and fellow top-20 stars Tommy Paul and Ben Shelton.
However De Minaur and world No.24 Alexei Popyrin, nonetheless using excessive after successful the Montreal Masters 1000 crown earlier than toppling Novak Djokovic at Flushing Meadows, hope to have the followers’ backing on the Malaga indoor enviornment.
The Sydney-born pair grew up collectively in Alacante after their mother and father felt Spain was the most effective nation to advance their tennis careers.
“It’s at all times nice to return again right here to Malaga. We now have had a reasonably good reference to the gang all through the years,” De Minaur stated.
“It’s in fact an away tie for us, however we’re going to do our greatest to get the Spanish crowd to help us, as a result of we’ve acquired some Spanish roots. So hopefully we will pull on that.”
> READ MORE: Stosur honoured with Billie Jean King Cup Dedication Award
Runners-up final yr to Italy, the Australians – additionally that includes world No.28 Jordan Thompson, Thanasi Kokkinakis and Olympic doubles gold medallist Matt Ebden – may meet Jannik Sinner’s Italy within the semifinals.
The defending champions face Argentina of their quarterfinal on Thursday.
“We now have had robust matches the final couple of years right here and have been in a position to dig deep and discover a solution to get via to the ultimate,” Hewitt stated.
“We’re going to have to do this once more on Thursday.”
Australia hasn’t received the Davis Cup since 2003 in Melbourne and Hewitt hopes subsequent yr’s finals might be staged Down Below.
“We’d actually prefer to hopefully host the finals as properly. We’d prefer to get the chance to place a bid in for subsequent yr,” he stated.
“I feel we deserve that. I’ve been working extraordinarily onerous with the (Worldwide Tennis) Federation to have the ability to give us that chance.
“It’s irritating for these guys to at all times have to return all the way in which over to Europe each single yr to play within the finals.
“I understand how particular it was for me to win Davis Cup finals in Australia. Everyone knows how good a practice our nation has on this competitors for properly over a 100 years. We’ll see the place that lands.”
Discover your solution to play: Go to play.tennis.com.au to get out on court docket and have some enjoyable!
