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Davis Cup Finals

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2024 Davis Cup semi-final: Italy too good to end Australia’s hopes of winning this prestigious trophy courtesy of both Matteo Berrettini and Jannik Sinner

by Sports Benches

First of all, it wasn’t the series the Aussies wanted in this Davis Cup semi-final v Italy again – who previously defeated them last time round during the Final last year & did so once again last night – after seeing both of our singles players Thanasi Kokkinakis and Alex De Minaur being run down 2-0 by their own opponents in Matteo Berrettini and Jannik Sinner.

But this is something we should be proud of at the end of the day with our head held high. We were oh close following that brilliant first set tiebreak mini win to begin with from Kokkanikis before he just couldn’t hang in there through the end over the best of three on what has been an excellent Berrettini comeback. 

Also, that Sinner and De Minaur match was extremely difficult to watch either when Sinner right now is our next generation version of Roger Federer from Switzerland today, has won both grand slams in 2024 both at the Australian and US Open & he too has done in straight sets – shame it was a non-starter for Alex there.  All eyes on Alex though if he can make the last 8 again but this time it has to be at Melbourne Park, although it depends on which opponents he will take on soon.

And if Kokkanikis did hold on to at least one of the singles’ match wins, then Matt Ebden and Jordan Thompson could’ve been there to give ourselves another shot at the Davis Cup crown for the Final when it comes to the reserved doubles match tie. 

But with Italy already wrapped up 2-0 without the need of doubles, looks like they are now set to defend their title once again this time v Netherlands tonight from 11pm AEDT only on BeIn Sports and not 9Gem.

So I guess with the new format around the corner for next year’s Davis Cup, it seems Australia would be back in action very early with the first round qualifiers straight after the Australian Open – unless they can be the host nation for that second round for September, which would normally be held in Europe, I assume.

This shouldn’t be too much of an issue though as sure they can continue to keep on rolling and who knows if the Aussies will be back in the Davis Cup Final again someday? Hopefully, they can finally be able to lift that historic trophy once more.

For now, onto the United Cup in little over a month’s time then here comes the three-week home grand slam come early January 2025 across Melbourne Park.

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2024 Davis Cup QF: Thanasi Kokkinakis & strong doubles pair of Ebden and Thompson enough to keep the Aussie hopes alive v the USA for tomorrow’s huge rematch v Italy

by Sports Benches

Last night was one of the best Davis Cup Quarter-Finals we just witnessed in 2024 over in Malaga with the Aussies still in the hunt for the prestigious crown thanks to their doubles deciding win over the USA by Matt Ebden and Jordan Thompson & they will now go into tomorrow night’s semi against reigning champions Italy on what would be last year’s final rematch. 

It will be another tough next few battles for sure but there’s still long way to go even if it means making the big dance once more & hopefully winning it this time against either Germany or the Netherlands.

As said earlier, our doubles stronghold of Ebden and Thompson was enough to keep our team alive also in straight sets. This deciding contest they faced was up against someone Ebden knows well from the Olympics doubles gold medal match a few months ago (August) in Paris where he won it with John Peers, having taken on silver medalists once again in Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram. 

Meanwhile, we wish Alex De Minaur could’ve finished the series early 2-0 but was not able to get past Taylor Fritz in straight sets. To be honest though, he was up against someone, who has been in more than few grand slam knockout finals, including the recent US Open final back in September where he lost to Italian Jannik Sinner. He will need more than just the fighting spirit if Alex was to shock one of the world’s best players right now of this next generation Tennis era against Sinner, so not expecting him to win it since it’s going to be one tough of a contest but he’s one of our best Tennis players here.

And at the end of the day, how good was Thanasi Kokkinakis? He too finally came out on top of the hill against Ben Shelton after a long three set battle. Love how Shelton fought back to bring up the deciding set at the third but these two just couldn’t stop fighting to start & Kokkinakis stood tall towards the end there. Love seeing Kokkinakis proving to everyone that he still has lot to offer for the Aussies to go all the way & we want to see more of his inspiring plays when he returns tomorrow.

Make sure you get behind them as it’s still been a little over 20 years since the Aussies last won the Davis Cup with the Germany v Netherlands semi to play first tonight (BeIn Sports only) followed by Australia v Italy tomorrow night on 9Gem.

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Australia fell short on their return to the Davis Cup Final by first-time Champions Canada but proud of fighting spirit & hard work does after a great 2022 of Tennis

by Sports Benches

It wasn’t Australia’s day today when they returned to the Davis Cup Final scene for the first time in 19 years that went way back to 2003 – where Australia last won their title for the 28th time on home soil v Spain. They came here with fighting spirit orchestrated by Lleyton Hewitt as Team Captain, having never gave up along the way after their wins beforehand v Netherlands (QF) & Croatia (Semis). 

However, we have to credit Canada with the breakthrough moment they deserve – especially when they have a bright & an elite young line-up. But we all have to move on as Australia has to keep building on the good work they’ve got right now, so they can come back again hopefully next year & go one better this time.

We’ll start with the first singles tie between Thanasi Kokkinakis v Denis Shapovalov where neither of them have yet to register a win so far in this year’s Davis Cup Finals, but one of them will do so in the end. It turns out to be Shapovalov who was too good for Kokkinakis in straight sets – 6-2, 6-4. For Kokkinakis, his first set spell was a lot to be desired. Although he did show some fight after break in a bid to stay in contention, but it still wasn’t enough to hold off towards a 3rd set decider.

Then we turn our attention to Alex De Minaur v Felix-Auger Alliasime in the next singles match – as the moment of truth has arrived if Australia will bring out a doubles rubber & go one better to retrieve the Davis Cup trophy – or will be Canada as first time winners 2-0? Let’s find out as this time it was a very competitive opening half spell in the 1st set by both players before Auger-Aliassime pulled off the other half easily, while De Minaur did the best he can to keep Australia in the race and lead into a 3rd set lifeline after the break. 

In the end though, Auger-Aliassime escaped a late threat from De Minaur that not only sealed another singles win in straight sets but also gifted Canada the Davis Cup trophy for the first time. The final score was 6-3, 6-4 – with no doubles match required following Canada’s 2-0 whitewash in the series final v Australia.

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Alex De Minaur & the doubles pair of Max Purcell & Jordan Thompson turned out to be Australia’s saviour in the semis v Croatia as they advanced into Sunday’s Davis Cup Final

by Sports Benches

Australia has done it as they have now punched their ticket for Sunday’s Davis Cup Final following their win in the Doubles decider v Croatia where they wrapped up 2-1 in this series. Their next opponent will either be Italy or Canada as these sides will battle it out in the other Semi-Final later tonight.

We’ll start off with Borna Coric & Thanasi Kokkinakis in the first singles match where both players battled so hard from the very start. However, it was Coric who narrowly escaped Kokkinakis with the opening set lead before he shut him completely in straight sets that gave Croatia a 1-0 headstart. The final score was 4-6, 3-6.

Then we turn our attention to Alex De Minaur v Marin Cilic in the second singles tie that will determine if it’s a Croatia 2-0 whitewash or a lifeline for Australia going into the 3rd & final doubles match. It’s safe to say that De Minaur have saved Australia from the brink of elimination at 1-1 apiece – where he was just too good for Cilic from start to finish – 6-2, 6-2.

And alright here’s the doubles deciding tie now where one of them will advance into Sunday’s Final v the winner of Semi-Final No.1 between Italy or Canada; It’s Max Purcell & Jordan Thompson v Nikola Metkic & Mate Pavic. Like we saw with the opening singles tie earlier on, this opening stage was really competitive by both teams before Croatia narrowly got away unscathed in the first set via tiebreaker. 

But not all hope is lost though from Australia when they never gave up with the rebound after the break that sets up a one-set shootout. In the end, it’s Australia who pulled off comfortably following a tight first half distance, as they have came from behind to close off a stunning 2-1 series win v Croatia. The final score was 6-7 (3-7 tiebreaker), 7-5, 6-4.

We loved the leadership Lleyton Hewitt orchestrated as Team Captain, as well as Purcell & Thompson’s celebration & De Minaur’s roar both on-court & from the crowd. Let’s see if they can go all the way & lift this historic trophy for the first time in 19 years, as Australia want to be an elite challenger again for many years to come.

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Australia ready to go one better in the Davis Cup semi-finals v Croatia after they wrapped a 2-0 clean sweep yesterday v Netherlands

by Sports Benches

It’s been a great start to Australia’s run so far in the 2022 Davis Cup Finals after they completed a 2-0 clean sweep yesterday v Netherlands in the Quarter-Finals at the Martin Carpena Arena in Malaga, Spain.

Australia have now moved onto the semi finals for the first time since 2017 when they fell short to Belgium by 3-2, as they will take on Croatia on Saturday AM Australian time in a bid to secure a spot for Sunday’s big Final v winner of Semi-Final No.1 which could be either Italy, USA, Germany or Canada. 

In the first match, Jordan Thompson and Tallon Griekspoor always battled side-by-side each other to stay in this fight, with Griekspoor taking out the opening set lead before Thompson fought back at 1-1 apiece following the 2nd set that leads into a 3rd set tiebreaker. And Thompson executed it beautifully towards a comfortable end to this tie, especially in this last half run from 3-2. The final score was 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, with Australia leading the Netherlands 1-0.

Then we move onto the next singles game between Alex De Minaur v Botic Van De Zandschulp. Once again, it was another competitive fire off between the two players when the Dutchman narrowly held off De Minaur in the opening set. But then De Minaur made up some lost time immediately after the break with an easy 2nd set spell where the Australian have set up another 3rd set decider that could see them go one step closer towards the Semi-Finals. 

Although De Minaur didn’t find it easy at first when battling against a tough competitor like Van De Zandschulp, but he got away unscathed in such a close finish to this 2nd tie with another win for Australia. The final score was 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, as Australia have advanced into the semi-finals with no doubles match required after a 2-0 series Quarter-Final win.

Let’s see if they can go from strength to strength & hopefully book their first Main Event appearance for the first time in nearly two decades when Australia last won the 2003 Davis Cup on home soil at Rod Laver Arena.

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Davis Cup 2021, Australia fight back in 2-1 tie v Hungary via Alex De Minaur’s three-hour encounter & both Alex Bolt & John Peers’s teamwork in the doubles

by Sports Benches

Such a competitive 2nd game between Australian Alex De Minaur & Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics where De Minaur had a great start even in the toughest of rallies that was enough to pull off in the 1st set at 7-5, But Fucsovics bounced back with a 1-1 lead at 2-6 having been too good after the break while De Minaur have struggled to keep the momentum on his end.

And these two players never stopped fighting for top spot until the every end via the tiebreaker as De Minaur wrapped this gruelling three-hour encounter with the win v Fucsovics for Australia, who secured their first win of this year’s Davis Cup finals in Group D.

Final Score: 7-5, 2-6, 7-6 in 7-2 tiebreaker.

Then we wrap up Australia’s day in the office (Alex Bolt & John Peers) v Hungary (Fabian Marozsan & Zsombor Piros) with the doubles as Australia have the upper hand at the beginning in a nice 1st set lead at 6-3, although they couldn’t hold off at the first attempt in straight sets via an extremely competitive tiebreaker 11-13 after the break (6-7) but found their way home first that secured a 2-1 series win for Australia.

Final Score: 6-3, 6-7 via 11-13 tiebreaker & 6-3.

All Australia can do now is pray for the other results to go their way & take the last two remaining Quarter-Final spots as the 1st & 2nd best runner up later today.

#Tennis #DavisCup #DavisCupFinals #Australia #Hungary #AlexBolt #JohnPeers #AlexDeMinaur #MartonFucsovics #PalaAlpitour #FabianMarozsan #ZsomborPiros

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Tennis News, Australia still yet to find a win in the 2021 Davis Cup Finals after Zsombor Piros went from a first set down to a remarkable turnaround v John Millman

by Sports Benches

What a turnaround from John Millman when he fell behind at the beginning, began to catch up for Australia & held back Hungarian Zsombor Piros 6-4 for the first set lead.

However, he wasn’t able to hold off the first attempt towards victory in straight sets after Piros managed to rebound in the 2nd set 4-6 that leads to a 3rd set decider showdown at Pala Alpitour in Turin, Italy.

Although Millman has shown brilliance of fightback as he never giving up but just couldn’t find the execution where Piros went from the opening set down to a fantastic turnaround that found his way towards victory, Final Score: 6-4, 4-6 & 3-6.

Next up is Alex De Minaur v Marton Fucsovics as Australia still yet to register a win in Group D of the 2021 Davis Cup Finals.

#DavisCup #DavisCupFinals #Tennis #Australia #Hungary #JohnMillman #ZsomborPiros #PalaAlpitour

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Tennis News, Australia clean swept by Croatia 3-0 in Group D of the 2021 Davis Cup Finals at Pala Alpitour in Turin, Italy

by Sports Benches

It’s not been a great day in the office for Australia today in the 2021 Davis Cup Finals when they were clean swept by Croatia 3-0 during their first of two Group D encounters at Pala Alpitour in Turin, Italy.

Yes, that first game between Croatian Borna Gojo and Aussie Alexei Popyrin was really intense with really great battles from both players that gone down to the very end but it’s always Gojo who nailed Popyrin down first in straight sets (Final Score: 7-6 via 7-5 tiebreaker & 7-5).

Then we turn our attention to Marin Cilic & Alex De Minaur where De Minaur redeemed himself in the second set after a poor start earlier on, but unfortunately, he wasn’t able to hold off the win De Minaur wanted for Australia despite that early lead in the third set (Final Score: 6-1, 5-7, & 6-4).

And last but not least the doubles tie with Croatia (Nikola Mektic & Mate Pavic) being too good along the way here to wrap up a 3-0 whitewash v Australia (Alex De Minaur & John Peers), Australia might have the early fire off but just wasn’t able to produce the goods needed to hold Croatia back (Final Score: 6-3, 6-1).

With that being said Australia’s next encounter in Group D is Hungary on 8pm Saturday Night AEDT as they needed to smash something big & win all three ties via both singles & a doubles game
if an unlikely Quarter-Finals berth comes their way.

#DavisCup #Croatia #Australia #Tennis #PapaAlpitour #DavisCupFinals #BornaGojo #AlexeiPopyrin #MarinCilic #AlexDeMinaur #JohnPeers #NikolaMektic #MatePavic

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