Australia shut out Switzerland in a match they absolutely must win to reach the Davis Cup final.
Key points:
- Thanasi Kokkinakis and Alex de Minaur both won their singles matches
- Matt Ebden and Max Purcell won the doubles
- The final will be played in Malaga
Lleyton Hewitt’s side knew they would secure their place in the eight-team knockout stage in November if they could beat Switzerland 3-0 in their final group game in Manchester.
Thanasi Kokkinakis, Alex de Minaur and the doubles pair of Matt Ebden and Max Purcell duly responded with scintillating performances.
It means the Australians, who finished runners-up in 2022, can return to Malaga in November aiming to go one better than last year by winning the title for the first time in 20 years since Hewitt led them to victory as a player.
“We gave ourselves a great opportunity last year and the boys took a liking to it,” Hewitt said.
“We want to try and push a little bit harder and see if we can climb that mountain and I feel like I have the boys who are capable of doing that.”
Hewitt’s key decision to keep faith with Kokkinakis paid off, with the South Australian beating Dominic Stricker 6-3, 7-5 in the first match.
Australian number one De Minaur then continued his proud record in the green and gold jersey by outclassing Marc-Andrea Hüsler, who had been preferred to veteran three-time major winner Stan Wawrinka.
De Minaur won 6-4, 6-3 to seal Australia’s second win of the week after their 2-1 victory over France.
Ebden and Purcell won their third straight match of their unbeaten week, outclassing Stricker and Hüsler 6-2, 6-4.
PAA
