“I’m thrilled that these boys get that opportunity on Sunday.
“I’d love it to be in Australia,though. I’m disappointed the boys don’t get to play in front of 15,000 at Rod Laver Arena.”
Regardless,the likes of Alex de Minaur,Jordan Thompson and Thanasi Kokkinakis have the chance to both end Australia’s drought and put an exclamation mark on the nation’s stunning year.
It started in January when Ash Barty ended an even more famous drought by becoming the first home-grown Australian Open singles champion in more than 40 years,her third grand slam title.
In between,Kyrgios went the deepest he has even gone at the majors by reaching the Wimbledon final,stopped by a hungry Novak Djokovic who won his 21st grand slam event. At the same tournament,Australians Matt Ebden and Max Purcell upset more fancied opponents by claiming the men’s doubles.
Lleyton Hewitt is jubilant after the semi-final victory.Credit:Getty Images
Earlier this month,Australia’s women’s team reached the Billie Jean King Cup final (formerly the Fed Cup) before losing to Switzerland.
Ajla Tomljanovic,holding a career-high ranking of 33,also reached back-to-back major quarter-finals in London and New York.
This weekend,Australia’s triumph over Croatia in Malaga,on the southern Spanish coast,came straight out of Hewitt’s gritty playbook as a doubles pairing who’d never played together in the Davis Cup were left staring at defeat before pulling off a win.
There was shock earlier with news the Wimbledon-winning partnership of Purcell and Ebden wouldn’t be starting in the doubles with Hewitt later revealing Ebden had an injury concern.
De Minaur delivered a masterclass to keep their hopes alive,outplaying Marin Cilic 6-2,6-2 in a must-win second singles match following Thanasi Kokkinakis’ 6-4,6-3 defeat by Borna Coric in the opening rubber.
Hewitt was rapt with his squad after he had to adjust his plans.
“Mattie[Ebden] had a slight ankle issue,so we had that coming in for the last couple of days. We have had to go back to the drawing board and work out a plan that we could get the win today,” Hewitt said.
Loading
“I couldn’t be prouder of the whole team. We knew we were the underdogs coming into this today,and we like being in that position. It’s a place I really enjoyed as a player and also as a captain.
“For Thommo[Thompson] to step up,though,and take up that responsibility tonight in a do-or-die doubles match ... he’s played some doubles in Davis Cup before,which gave me a lot of confidence,but he played his role perfectly tonight.”
Hewitt and the team are taking inspiration from the memory of Australian legend Lew Hoad.
“Last week we went to Lew Hoad’s academy in Malaga where he sort of set up base,” Hewitt said.
“We have Tony Roche in our team as well. We are fortunate to have people like that are around.
“I just couldn’t be prouder of these guys and the heart and the passion and the pride that they are
playing with.”