Thanasi Kokkinakis' stunning response after Lleyton Hewitt's brutal call on top Aussie tennis star

Lleyton Hewitt's call to keep Jordan Thompson on the sidelines for Australia's Davis Cup clashes continues to pay off as Thanasi Kokkinakis once again did the job for the Aussies in Spain. After having success calling on Kokkinakis instead of Thompson earlier in the week as Australia defeated France 2-1, Hewitt again opted to stick with the 28-year-old in the difficult No.2 singles spot against Czech's Jakub Mensik.

It was a decision that once again paid off as Australia clinched a 3-0 sweep over the Czech team in Valencia on Thursday (Friday morning AEDT). The Australian team kept its composure as their Czech counterparts were struck down by sickness and injury. Jiri Lehecka went down with a fever before Tomas Machac - who'd withdrawn with cramp during his match with Carlos Alcaraz just 24 hours earlier - was only fit enough to play nine points against Alexei Popyrin before having to retire with a calf injury.

That eight-minute victory sealed Australia's win but in the final match. But Kokkinakis' performance was again the one that stood out as he again stepped up in the tricky No.2 singles spot. Kokkinakis once more came up trumps on the indoor hard court, handling the firepower of rising teen star Jakub Mensik 6-2 6-7 (2-7) 6-3. And his strong display impressed Hewitt, whose decision to select him over World No.29 Thompson was again vindicated

World No.78 Kokkinakis bombed down 19 aces to take down World No.67 Mensik just two days after the Adelaide man dispatched World No.25 Arthur Fils 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-3) in a huge boilover. "Thanasi did great, played fantastic," Hewitt said on Thursday (Friday morning AEDT). "He had a small hiccup, getting broken when serving for the match in the second set, but it was how he responded when challenged, which was so impressive to me. That's going to give him the world of belief in himself under that kind of pressure."

Hewitt has shown time and time again that he's loyal to players who've got the job done before. Kokkinakis has a brilliant Davis Cup record and has helped Australia reach the final in the last two editions of the event.

And after clinching yet another Davis Cup victory, Kokkinakis said the fact he was selected over other fit Australian counterparts showed the enormous faith Hewitt has in him. "I wasn't sure if I'd get the call-up, but I'd been training well. So to step up and put two points on the board for us is massive," said Kokkinakis.

"And big ups to Lleyton for trusting me and giving me the run when all of us could have played. I think that's the beauty of tennis in Australia right now. We're all having great years."

Australia hunt for elusive Davis Cup glory

Australia's second qualifying group victory in three days almost guarantees them the chance to again shoot for victory in the eight-team Davis Cup finals week in Malaga. But having finished runner-up in both of the last two years, Hewitt says he won't be satisfied until his team's ticket is sealed as Australia looks to end a 21-year drought in November. But making the final eight could be completed in the next 24 hours, with Australia assured of qualification should hosts Spain - spearheaded by Alcaraz - defeat France.

However there's a very slim chance Australia won't make it if they lose 3-0 to Spain and France manage to beat the Spaniards 3-0.

Jordan Thompson again overlooked by Lleyton Hewitt

Thompson has been unlucky not to get a game this week. Not only has the World No.29 not gotten a singles match so far he was also overlooked for the doubles team. On Tuesday, Hewitt went with Max Purcell and Matt Ebden in the doubles despite Thompson and Purcell recently winning the US Open doubles crown together. However, the decision wasn't a complete shock as Ebden won gold at the recent Olympics with John Peers and he and Purcell have formed a formidable Davis Cup doubles team in recent years.

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The decision also proved to be the correct one as the pair won the tie against French team Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Edouard Roger-Vasselin 7-5 5-7 6-3 on Tuesday. And then on Thursday, they again were kept together by Hewitt as they outclassed Mensik and Adam Pavlasek 6-4 6-2 to improve their dazzling Davis Cup record together to 8-1.

with AAP