Australia has completed second in Group B after a good loss to Spain on Sunday, and on Thursday will study its quarterfinal opponent at November’s Davis Cup Finals.
Valencia, Spain, 16 September 2024 | tennis.com.au/AAP> READ MORE: Australia qualifies for Davis Cup Finals
“We had been ecstatic a few nights in the past after we bought informed Spain had received and we had been assured to undergo,” Australian captain Lleyton Hewitt stated.
“We got here right here with one aim this week and that was to qualify for the finals, and we had been ready to do this. So actually happy with the boys and the trouble they’ve put in. They’ve completed themselves proud and so they’ve completed the remainder of the staff proud, however they’ve [also] completed their nation proud.
“We’ll be prepared for November.”
There was, in idea, solely satisfaction to play for on this Group B conflict between Australia and Spain.
But it definitely didn’t really feel that means as the house aspect, even with out their rested celebrity Carlos Alcaraz and cheered on by a wildly enthusiastic full-house within the Pabellon Fuente de San Luis, defied all the percentages to battle to a win that ensured they topped the group.
Jordan Thompson had served for the match within the opening rubber, solely to go down 2-6 6-2 7-6(3) to Pablo Carreno Busta, in what the Sydneysider described as an “extremely irritating” reverse.
Alexei Popyrin then levelled the tie with a reasonably routine, crowd-silencing 6-4 6-4 victory over Pedro Martinez.
Australia stage the tie! ⚖️
A medical efficiency from Alexei Popyrin, he takes it in straight units and forces the tie to a decider 🤩#DavisCup pic.twitter.com/9FSFS6QJqV
— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) September 15, 2024
“The primary match that I performed I used to be a bit amped up on nerves and a bit emotional,” Popyrin informed daviscup.com, referring to his loss earlier within the week to France’s Ugo Humbert.
“I attempted to calm it down and really feel the way in which I usually really feel on courtroom. I believe in direction of the top I balanced it out and behaved the way in which I usually do on courtroom.”
Popyrin’s victory arrange a dwell doubles decider, with the Aussie pair of Matt Ebden and Max Purcell, who boast an impressive Davis Cup file, taking over residence duo of Marcel Granollers and Martinez.
With Martinez having to come back again on courtroom so quickly after his defeat to Popyrin, issues appeared bleak for the Spaniards as they misplaced the opening set to Ebden and Purcell, the 2022 Wimbledon males’s doubles champions.
However impressed to new ranges by the din on the indoor hardcourt venue, 38-year-old Granollers, the world’s No.1, led the pair to a outstanding 5-7 6-4 6-4 win.
2024 Davis Cup Finals – group stage
SPAIN d AUSTRALIA d 2-1
Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP) d Jordan Thompson (AUS) 2-6 6-2 7-6(3)
Alexei Popyrin (AUS) d Pedro Martinez (ESP) 6-4 6-4
Marcel Granollers/Pedro Martinez (ESP) d Matt Ebden/Max Purcell (AUS) 5-7 6-4 6-4
Discover your method to play: Go to play.tennis.com.au to get out on courtroom and have some enjoyable!
