MÁLAGA/WASHINGTON, November 29, 2022 (by Michael Dickens)
Australia’s dream of returning the Davis Cup to the Southern Hemisphere was ended by upstart Canada Sunday afternoon in Málaga, Spain – but not without a spirited fight.
Both Thanasi Kokkinakis and Alex de Minaur of Australia came up short against their Canadian foes, Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Aliassime, as Canada lifted the prestigious, 122-year-old Davis Cup for the first time.
“I had just one job to do and that was to get my team into the deciding doubles,” Australia’s No. 1 singles player de Minaur said in his team’s post-tie press conference after Canada won the Davis Cup by beating the Aussies 2-0. “Sadly, I wasn’t able to perform today.
“It’s just tough. You know, you always want to do everything you can for your team, and I had chances. They just didn’t go my way today.”
An incredible week by the Aussies 👏
See you next year @TennisAustralia 🤜🤛#DavisCup #byRakuten pic.twitter.com/N7vrkvnSHc
— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) November 27, 2022
The disappointing loss ended Australia’s 19-year wait of competing in the Davis Cup final and the quest for a 29th title will have to wait until next year. Canada’s pair of Top-20 stars was just too much for Australia to overcome, after advancing to the title tie with a pair of earlier wins over the Netherlands and Croatia in the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds of the Davis Cup by Rakuten Finals.
“I’m gutted for the boys,” Australia’s team captain Lleyton Hewitt, formerly the golden boy of Aussie tennis said in his team’s final press conference of the week. “They’ve put in the work and do absolutely everything right all year. They left it all out there once again; we came up slightly short, but I couldn’t be prouder – and all of Australia should be proud.”
Both Kokkinakis and de Minaur, who was Australia’s team leader on the court throughout 2022, bore the look of misery on their faces after each went down to defeat.
Better signs for @TennisAustralia @TKokkinakis is far from done here 💪#DavisCup #byRakuten pic.twitter.com/ji734aEpkX
— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) November 27, 2022
First, the 94th-ranked Kokkinakis lost to No. 18 Shapovalov, 6-2, 6-4, after quickly falling behind 4-0 at the outset.
“I’m pretty flat, to be honest,” Kokkinakis told reporters afterward. “All credit to Denis. He played well. He’s had a lot of matches. He’s a good player.”
Then, No. 24 de Minaur went down to World No. 6 Auger-Aliassime, 6-3, 6-4, that brought out many fine qualities in both players. The Green and Gold’s back-to-back losses meant there was no need to play the doubles rubber, which would have featured a pair of semifinal stars Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson, who won their team’s decisive point in Australia’s 3-2 win over Croatia on Friday.
🇨🇦 WORLD CHAMPIONS 🇨🇦
After 109 years Canada have won their first EVER Davis Cup 👏🤩#DavisCup #byRakuten | @TennisCanada pic.twitter.com/tVwqbVClFG
— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) November 27, 2022
“It’s a tough feeling to put into words,” de Minaur admitted, after failing to convert any of the eight break-point chances he accumulated against Auger-Aliassime while being outpointed 62-52. “You know, we had kind of the ultimate goal in front of us, and you know, on this day we weren’t about to perform.
“It’s tough, but, you know, so many Davis Cup Australian players have been following us on the journey throughout the whole year, and they have been every step of the way. Even though they haven’t maybe played or they have played in previous ties, they were riding this roller coaster with us.
“It just shows what a family this Australian Davis Cup team is.”
The ‘Demon’ is not going anywhere yet 🦾#DavisCup #byRakuten | @TennisAustralia pic.twitter.com/tz5hrGEEjx
— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) November 27, 2022
When Hewitt was asked if persuading the talented-but-mercurial Nick Kyrgios to join the team might have made a difference, he smiled at the reporter and quipped: “I don’t know. You have to ask him. I can’t try any harder.”
De Minaur added: “I have tried, as well. Just wasn’t meant to be.”
Finally, when Hewitt was asked to reflect upon the twin Australian successes of this year’s Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup squads. Each reached the finals of their respective competitions but both ended as the runner-up team.
“Obviously, in both competitions we had good runs,” Hewitt said. “But, you know, neither of us enjoyed the ultimate success.
“I know Alicia (Australia’s team captain Alicia Molik) did everything in her power to try and get over the line. They had a great week in Glasgow and gave themselves an opportunity. We are in the same boat.
“We’ll look back an be very proud of what both Australian teams have done this year, but, you know, we came up slightly short.”
Aussie spirit 🇦🇺#GoAussies | #DavisCup pic.twitter.com/9MROgiPfMA
— TennisAustralia (@TennisAustralia) November 23, 2022
