Alex de Minaur’s “ultimate dream” of lifting the Davis Cup for Australia is tantalisingly shut in his adopted Spanish house – however an enthralling if menacing determine is obstructing his means.
Full of firepower and armed with two of the brightest younger stars in tennis in Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Aliassime, Canada are able to take it to captain Lleyton Hewitt’s group of battlers within the ultimate in Malaga on Sunday (Monday AEDT).
The dynamic duo bought to the ultimate in 2019 and now, with 22-year-old Auger-Aliassime having clicked into the type of his younger life, the Canadians imagine it is their second to carry the World Cup of males’s tennis for the primary time in its 122-year historical past.
Auger-Aliassime has lengthy been tipped as a slam champion in ready and has begun enjoying like one this final couple of months, whereas being bestowed with the brand new nickname of “Oxford” by fellow star Andrey Rublev as a result of he is so humble, articulate and well-educated.
On the courtroom, although, he could be an murderer.
They would by no means be so presumptuous as to say so however fielding the world No.6 Auger-Aliassime and No.18 Shapovalov should persuade the Canadians they might even wrap up the ultimate with out the necessity for a deciding doubles.
But this isn’t making an allowance for the ‘Demon’ issue. For world No.24 de Minaur can also be enjoying the very best tennis of his profession, having lately downed a top-five participant Daniil Medvedev for the primary time and his match with Auger-Aliassime will likely be completely pivotal.
The unhealthy news is that Auger-Aliassime has gained their two earlier clashes on laborious courts, together with his 6-3 6-2 trouncing of the Aussie No.1 in Cincinnati in August significantly ominous.
But that is not accounting for what the Davis Cup constantly dredges out of de Minaur. He’s gained each his singles this week and felt his demolition of Marin Cilic in a must-win rubber towards Croatia within the semi-final was in all probability his greatest Cup triumph of the lot.
It has been a particular week for the 23-year-old, who has a base in Alicante, a five-hour drive north of Malaga on the Costa Blanca and whose Spanish mum Esther has been cheering him on within the Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena.
“It’s been an amazing week, I’ve got so many family and friends coming here to watch me. We’re a long way from Oz, so it’s great to have these Aussie fans here. Hopefully, we can keep it going all the way,” stated de Minaur.
Much can even rely upon the opening singles rubber, through which Hewitt should select who to play towards Shapovalov, who’s had a draining week and wanted a time-out for again remedy throughout his loss on Saturday to Italian Lorenzo Sonego, the one blemish in Canada’s 2-1 win.
Should Hewitt go together with Jordan Thompson, who beat Shapovalov on grass when the Canadian was simply an 18-year-old absolute newbie, or Thanasi Kokkinakis, who’s by no means performed him earlier than?
Australia’s first Davis Cup title for 19 years could but stand or fall on that decision.
