World No.9 Alex de Minaur’s shock inclusion has lifted Australia’s hopes in opposition to the USA within the Davis Cup quarterfinals in Spain.
Malaga, Spain, 21 November 2024 | Darren Walton, AAP#DavisCup pic.twitter.com/2ftdhkFcYg
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Staff USA boasts a formidable line-up led by 2024 US Open runner-up and world No.5 Taylor Fritz and fellow top-20 stars Tommy Paul and Ben Shelton.
However De Minaur and world No.24 Alexei Popyrin, nonetheless driving excessive after successful the Montreal Masters 1000 crown earlier than toppling Novak Djokovic at Flushing Meadows, hope to have the followers’ backing on the Malaga indoor area.
The Sydney-born pair grew up collectively in Alacante after their dad and mom felt Spain was the most effective nation to advance their tennis careers.
“It’s at all times nice to come back again right here to Malaga. Now we have had a fairly good reference to the gang all through the years,” De Minaur stated.
“It’s in fact an away tie for us, however we’re going to do our greatest to get the Spanish crowd to assist us, as a result of we’ve bought some Spanish roots. So hopefully we are able to pull on that.”
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Runners-up final yr to Italy, the Australians – additionally that includes world No.28 Jordan Thompson, Thanasi Kokkinakis and Olympic doubles gold medallist Matt Ebden – might meet Jannik Sinner’s Italy within the semifinals.
The defending champions face Argentina of their quarterfinal on Thursday.
“Now we have had powerful matches the final couple of years right here and have been capable of dig deep and discover a solution to get via to the ultimate,” Hewitt stated.
“We’re going to have to do this once more on Thursday.”
Australia hasn’t received the Davis Cup since 2003 in Melbourne and Hewitt hopes subsequent yr’s finals will likely be staged Down Underneath.
“We’d actually wish to hopefully host the finals as nicely. We’d wish to get the chance to place a bid in for subsequent yr,” he stated.
“I believe we deserve that. I’ve been working extraordinarily arduous with the (Worldwide Tennis) Federation to have the ability to give us that chance.
“It’s irritating for these guys to at all times have to come back all the best way over to Europe each single yr to play within the finals.
“I understand how particular it was for me to win Davis Cup finals in Australia. Everyone knows how good a practice our nation has on this competitors for nicely over a 100 years. We’ll see the place that lands.”
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