Lleyton Hewitt is adamant the camaraderie between his staff of troopers will as soon as once more be the important thing as to whether Australian tennis can actually finish its two-decade Davis Cup drought.
This yr marks the twentieth anniversary since a youthful Hewitt’s victory over Spanish star Juan Carlos Ferrero final paved the best way for Australia to go on and win the lads’s ‘World Cup of tennis’ in Melbourne.
For the primary time since that 2003 triumph, Hewitt, now in his guise as captain, guided the staff to the ultimate final yr in Malaga, a substantial achievement with out the nation’s marquee participant, Nick Kyrgios, who most well-liked as an alternative to finish his most interesting yr at a big-money exhibition gig in Saudi Arabia.
Now getting ready to attempt to return to the finals by qualifying from this week’s difficult group stage in Manchester in opposition to hosts Britain, Switzerland and France, Hewitt is once more counting on a trusty squad, which can be bereft of 1 famous person identify however possess burgeoning high quality and a combating spirit all through.
“I’ve got a good group of guys here I believe in and, on the back of what we did last year too, there’s a lot of belief within the team,” mentioned Hewitt on Monday, after a apply session in Manchester with Alex de Minaur, Max Purcell, Jordan Thompson, Thanasi Kokkinakis and Matt Ebden.
“There’s a lot of belief within the team and just really good camaraderie with all the guys. That helps when when you’ve got each other’s backs out there and you can look over to the sideline and know you’re not just doing it for yourself, and everyone’s going to play their part.”
It’s a versatile staff with energy in depth. De Minaur is at a career-high 12 on the earth rankings after reaching the US Open last-16, Purcell can be as much as a private finest 43, Thompson is at 55, Kokkinakis is No.74, whereas Ebden has simply jetted in from New York because the Flushing Meadows males’s doubles finalist.
With Australian gamers flourishing this yr whereas Kyrgios has been nursing accidents, Hewitt was even in a position to omit three gamers ranked within the 50s – Aleksandar Vukic, Chris O’Connell and Alexei Popyrin – whereas plumping for Kokkinakis and Thompson, who can slot seamlessly into the doubles if wanted.
Still, whilst he ponders his line-up for the opening match in opposition to Andy Murray-fired hosts Britain on Wednesday, the chances are Hewitt will area 2022 Wimbledon champs Ebden and Purcell within the doubles.
“The boys all came here straight after New York and all of them have had some strong results over the last few months, so it was really just trying to keep them ticking over and get ready for three big matches coming up. We’re pretty happy with where we’re at,” added Hewitt.
Australia should end within the high two of their group to make the finals in Malaga once more, with a lot resting on the opening tie on Wednesday with the hosts who, in line with veteran world No.41 Murray, imagine they will win the Cup once more as in addition they function Cameron Norrie (No.17), Dan Evans (No.27) and high doubles participant Neal Skupski.
“We’ve got an extremely tough, extremely competitive group,” mentioned de Minaur, who all the time appears to boost his recreation when he dons Australia gold within the competitors.
“I’m happy with the performances I’ve been able to put on recently and looking forward to this week. These are always special weeks we get to come together as a team.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
