Australia’s hovering tennis males are on the verge of one other crack at Davis Cup finals glory after profitable their second group-stage tie in simply three days with a 3-0 whitewash of an ailing Czechia outfit in Valencia.
Lleyton Hewitt’s workforce, runners-up within the World Cup of males’s tennis for the final two years, is now odds-on to make the ‘final-eight’ week in Malaga in November after following up their 2-1 win over France with a a lot simpler outing in opposition to the harm and illness-hit Czechs.
Thanasi Kokkinakis, once more entrusted with the tough quantity two singles spot by captain Hewitt, got here up trumps as soon as extra on the indoor arduous court docket, maturely coping with the erratic firepower of rising teenage star Jakub Mensik in a formidable 6-2, 6-7 (2-7), 6-3 victory first up.
The Czech problem then crumbled after simply eight minutes of the second rubber when their primary, Tomas Machac, who had been pressured to retire with cramp throughout his loss to Carlos Alcaraz in Wednesday’s loss in opposition to hosts Spain, once more pulled out, this time with harm, in opposition to Alexei Popyrin.
To finish what Hewitt felt was “an ideal day”, his trusty doubles pairing of Matt Ebden and Max Purcell made quick work of Mensik and Adam Pavlasek 6-4, 6-2 to enhance their Davis Cup report collectively to 8-1 and seal the very important win.
“Thanasi was unbelievable within the first match,” stated Hewitt, who was justified in selecting him forward of the higher-ranked Jordan Thompson because the world quantity 78 offered the best follow-up to his straight-sets win over one other rising star and higher-ranked opponent Arthur Fils within the French tie.
Mensik, a 19-year-old with an enormous future, offered loads of bother as he battled again to nick the second set after Kokkinakis had served for a straight-sets win, however Kokkinakis regrouped and was then immaculate on his supply as he bombed down a complete of 19 aces whereas controlling the decider.
The following battle between the 2 quantity ones changed into a farce because it instantly grew to become apparent that Machac, shifting stiffly and with proper calf closely strapped, should not have been enjoying in any respect as he wanted courtside medical consideration after shedding simply the primary sport.
At 15-30 down on his personal serve within the second, he then provided a resigned hand to Popyrin, gifting the Australians victory after simply 9 factors.
The explanation Machac was pressured to play was as a result of the Czechs, who had solely 4 males of their workforce, had been hit by one other match day blow when their quantity two singles man Jiri Lehecka was pressured out with sickness.
The victory put Hewitt’s workforce in a strong place to succeed in the eight-team finals week after a second group B victory, with a tie in opposition to the Alcaraz-inspired hosts nonetheless to return on Sunday.
If Spain beat France, the Aussies’ ticket to Malaga can be assured.
There’s nonetheless a slim probability of a French whitewash of the hosts, adopted by Spain beating the Czechs 3-0 and Hewitt’s crew being trounced 3-0 by Alcaraz and co on Sunday, which may scupper Australian goals.
AAP
