Alex de Minaur gives Lleyton Hewitt Davis Cup headache as Aussie makes successful tennis return
De Minaur may be rushed into Hewitt's Davis Cup side after making a successful injury return in Antwerp.
Lleyton Hewitt will have to weigh up whether or not to rush Alex de Minaur into Australia’s squad for November’s Davis Cup finals after the World No.9 made a successful return from injury in Antwerp. The 25-year-old returned to the court for the first time since his US Open quarter-finals exit, having battled through a hip injury throughout that tournament.
And on his return to the court de Minaur outlasted Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 to book his spot in the last eight at the European Open. Having made a successful playing comeback, Hewitt now faces a serious dilemma for the Davis Cup finals. The Australian coach will either need to drop one member of the Australian team that booked a place in the finals or leave out the returning de Minaur, who is Australia's top-ranked tennis player.
De Minaur was originally left out of Australian captain Hewitt's squad for the November finals, with the thought he would likely return ahead of January's Australian Open. But his fine showing in Belgium has thrown a spanner in the works. After making a strong return to the court, de Minaur could either opt to push for a Davis Cup spot or attempt to qualify for the season-ending ATP finals in Italy.
De Minaur is currently ninth in the ATP Live Race To Turin, 425 points behind eighth-placed Andrey Rublev, who is in action on Thursday in Stockholm. The world's top eight square off in Italy from November 10-17 where the champion collects $A3.3 million and, if they go through the tournament undefeated, the winner will earn more than $A7 million. It is unclear whether de Minaur will prioritise the ATP finals, Davis Cup or both but for now the Aussie is just happy to be back on the court.
"It’s never easy coming back from injury, so I am happy I was able to win today," de Minaur said. "It took a lot of fight and effort, so I’m happy to get a first win here in Antwerp."
Lleyton Hewitt faces incredibly difficult Davis Cup decision
Australia played the Davis Cup group stage without de Minaur and as it stands he won't compete in November's tie against the United States. Although Hewitt has consistently refused to rule out the possibility that he could be a late inclusion. "Obviously he's got to get back out there and play to give himself a chance to still make it," Hewitt said about de Minaur's Davis Cup chances last week.
The Aussies face a brutal draw in the finals, facing the United States first up who boast five men in the world's top 20 - Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul, Sebastian Korda, Tiafoe and Ben Shelton. So Hewitt will have to seriously consider if de Minaur is worth the risk to include.
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De Minaur has strong competition in the Aussie fold, with two top-30 Aussie teammates, Alexei Popyrin and Jordan Thompson in the team. While Thanasi Kokkinakis is another singles option and has been outstanding for Hewitt's men in the Davis Cup, not dropping a match in the run to the finals. The Aussies also have the world-beating doubles pairing of Max Purcell and Matt Ebden and will fancy they can beat any team on their day with or without de Minaur.
