A heroic effort from Alex de Minaur helps Australia attain consecutive Davis Cup semifinals for the primary time since 2001.
Malaga, Spain, 22 November 2023 | Leigh Rogers
Australia has fought again from the brink of elimination to maintain our Davis Cup desires alive.
The Czech Republic made a near-perfect begin in opposition to the Aussies in a quarterfinal showdown at Malaga, with world No.78 Tomas Machac scoring a straight-sets win in opposition to Jordan Thompson within the opening singles rubber.
World No.31 Jiri Lehecka, who entered the tie on a seven-match profitable streak in Davis Cup, then served for victory in opposition to Australian No.1 Alex de Minaur.
But the world No.12 discovered one other gear beneath immense strain, combating again to publish a stirring 4-6 7-6(2) 7-5 victory.
“It’s been a really lengthy 12 months, proper? I believe it might have been fairly straightforward for me to roll over beneath the circumstances, however that’s simply not the kind of participant I’m. I’m all the time going to struggle till the tip,” De Minaur mentioned after the two-hour and 32-minute battle.
“I type of obtained just a little sniff. I used to be in a position to type of play a strong recreation there (trailing 4-5 within the second set), and after that, I felt like the entire momentum type of modified.”
Australian captain Lleyton Hewitt was stuffed with reward for De Minaur’s effort.
“(Alex) needed to dig actually deep, and but once more, he got here out and saved us,” Hewitt mentioned.
De Minaur’s inspiring effort lifted your entire Aussie staff, particularly Matt Ebden and Max Purcell who teamed up within the ultimate doubles rubber.
The Wimbledon 2022 champions saved their unbeaten document in Davis Cup this season intact, sealing a exceptional victory for Australia within the course of, with a 6-4 7-5 triumph in opposition to Czech pair Lehecka and Adam Pavlasek.
“That was spectacular in itself, you understand, to return out after driving the ups and downs of each singles matches, after which to have the ability to simply change it on like they did and put in that type of spectacular efficiency was superior,” Hewitt mentioned.
Ebden and Purcell have now gained 4 Davis Cup doubles matches in 2023, all with out conceding a set.
This marks the primary time that Australia has superior to back-to-back Davis Cup semifinals in 22 years.
Shock packets Finland, having fun with their nation’s deepest run in Davis Cup historical past, await within the semifinals.
The semifinals will probably be performed on Friday 24 November in Spain (from 2am AEDT on Saturday 25 November) and broadcast dwell in Australia on the 9 Community.
Davis Cup, quarterfinals
AUSTRALIA d CZECH REPUBLIC 2-1
Tomas Machac (CZE) d Jordan Thompson (AUS) 6-4 7-5
Alex de Minaur (AUS) d Jiri Lehecka (CZE) 4-6 7-6(2) 7-5
Matt Ebden/Max Purcell (AUS) d Jiri Lehecka/Adam Pavlasek (CZE) 6-4 7-5
Discover your method to play: Go to play.tennis.com.au to get out on courtroom and have some enjoyable!
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