Lleyton Hewitt rocked by Alex de Minaur blow as Aussies face 'awfully tough' time in Davis Cup
Australia are hoping to end their 21-year drought after making the final the last two years.
Lleyton Hewitt is backing Australia's tennis stocks to deliver without Alex de Minaur, despite admitting they face an "awfully tough" draw in the Davis Cup this week. The Aussies have been pitted against Spain, France and the Czech Republic in the group stage, with matches to be played in Valencia this week.
It's been described as the "group of death", with Spain boosted by the availability of Carlos Alcaraz and France led by two top-25 players. And to make things even more difficult for Australia, they'll be without top-ranked player de Minaur after he was officially ruled out on Monday.
De Minaur made his return at the US Open last week but eventually succumbed to the same hip injury that forced him to withdraw from Wimbledon. The World No.10 had been hopeful of playing in the Davis Cup, but it proved a bridge too far.
"Alex has done some incredible stuff in Davis Cup over the last three or four years now," Hewitt said on Monday. "But he's been battling since Wimbledon and he hasn't really been close to 100 per cent. He was desperate to play, but in the end it really wasn't much of a choice."
Lleyton Hewitt confident despite Alex de Minaur absence
Australia has made the Davis Cup final the last two years, and Hewitt is encouraged by the recent form shown by Alexei Popyrin, Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson. Popyrin beat Novak Djokovic on his way to the third round of the US Open, while Thompson made the fourth round in singles and won the doubles title alongside Purcell. In his squad, Hewitt also has Thanasi Kokkinakis and doubles veteran Matt Ebden - who won gold with John Peers at the Paris Olympics.
"We're in an awfully tough group," Hewitt said. "And I've got so much belief in the five guys sitting up here with me that we're capable of doing that, and they know that. They know how much confidence I have in them as individuals.
"They've all had stellar careers this year on a personal note as well some massive highlights. I expect us to go out there and compete hard and play well, and I think we're a good shot. We back ourselves against anyone. These guys put in the hard yards, not just this week leading into this tie, but throughout the year. They'll be full of confidence when we start."
Australia hoping to end 21-year Davis Cup title drought
Australia will face off against France on Tuesday afternoon local time (midnight AEST), who boast Ugo Humbert and Arthur Fils in their side. It marks the third meeting in as many years between Australia and France, with the Aussies winning 2-1 each time.
Hewitt's men will then face Czech Republic on Thursday (midnight AEST) before taking on Alcaraz's Spain outfit on Sunday (7pm AEST). Hewitt admitted selection will be tricky.
"It's a good problem to have," the Aussie captain said. "These boys know it's going to be a team effort, as it has been the last couple of years, for us to make a run deep into the competition.
"Everyone's going to have to pull their weight, and we've been able to do that well. The camaraderie is great. We've got a great Australian culture going, not just the guys that are playing, it's all the support staff and the hitting partners and everyone."
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Australia won the Davis Cup in 1999 and 2003, but their losses in the last two finals have added to their long wait for more glory. The top two teams in each group will advance to the finals, to be held in November.
"The last couple of years we've put ourselves in that position. We know what it feels like, we're going to be better for the experience," Hewitt said. "That's the plus side. But yeah, we have fallen one match short, and that's why we're here again this year to have another crack."
with AAP
