Taking part in 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 towards France.
Valencia, Spain, 10 September 2024 | Matt Trollope
Australia begins its quest for a twenty ninth Davis Cup title when a robust green-and-gold squad takes to the court docket this week for the Davis Cup Finals Group Stage.
Taking part in in Valencia in Group B alongside hosts Spain, plus France and Czech Republic, Australia is bidding to achieve a 3rd consecutive remaining within the staff competitors – and hopefully go one higher.
Australia begins towards France on Tuesday at 4pm native time (Wednesday 12am AEST), earlier than taking up Czech Republic on the identical time two days later, and Spain on Sunday (11am native time, 7pm AEST).
Regardless of Alex de Minaur having to withdraw on account of damage, Australia is represented by Alexei Popyrin, Jordan Thompson, Thanasi Kokkinakis, Max Purcell and Matt Ebden – all gamers in glorious latest kind.
“It makes it more durable, I assume, but it surely’s a superb drawback to have, that’s for certain. I’d slightly it that manner,” Australian captain Lleyton Hewitt mentioned about choosing the staff from such a robust present crop of gamers.
“All these boys all the time know that that is going to be a staff 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 in a position to do this properly, and the camaraderie’s nice, I believe we’ve bought an awesome Australian tradition going as properly amongst all of the boys, not simply the blokes which might be enjoying, it’s all of the help employees and the hitting companions and everybody that’s on the ties as properly.
“Clearly it’s all the time a troublesome resolution [regarding De Minaur’s hip injury], and Alex has executed some unbelievable stuff in Davis Cup over the past three or 4 years now.
“However he’s been battling for a short while 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 all the time going to be a large problem for him to rise up to play right here.
“He was determined to, and yeah, ultimately it actually wasn’t a lot of a alternative.”
Australia has not performed since its 2023 remaining loss to Italy, and on account 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 task, 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 received the Montreal Masters and is recent off defeating Novak Djokovic on the US Open to achieve the fourth spherical of a significant 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.
Only a few 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 towards 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 bought to do that week, and as I mentioned, these guys put within the laborious yards, not simply this week main into this tie however all year long as properly, to offer themselves the very best alternative of enjoying properly and getting career-high rankings. In order that they’ll be filled with confidence after we begin tomorrow.
“I’ve bought 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 12 months on a private notice as properly – some huge highlights.
“I count on us to go on the market and compete laborious and play properly, and I believe we’re a superb shot.”
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