Australia’s quest to break its 21-year Davis Cup title drought has hit a snag with the withdrawal of star player Alex de Minaur from the group stage. De Minaur, a prominent figure in Australia’s recent Davis Cup success, has been struggling with a persistent hip injury. Despite reaching the US Open quarterfinals, the hip issue ultimately proved too much for him, forcing him to exit the Grand Slam in straight sets against Briton Jack Draper.
Captain Lleyton Hewitt, a Davis Cup legend himself, confirmed de Minaur’s absence ahead of Australia’s opening match against France in Valencia. Hewitt acknowledged the disappointment, stating, “Alex has done some incredible stuff in Davis Cup over the last three or four years now. But he’s been battling since Wimbledon and he hasn’t really been close to 100%. He was desperate to play, but in the end, it really wasn’t much of a choice.”
With de Minaur out, Australia faces a challenging group, also featuring the Czech Republic and Spain. Despite the setback, Hewitt remains confident, pointing to the strong performances of other Australian players at the US Open. Alexei Popyrin, who upset Novak Djokovic at Flushing Meadows to reach the last 16, is a key player for Australia. Furthermore, the doubles pair of Jordan Thompson and Max Purcell, who captured the men’s doubles title at the US Open, brings valuable experience and strength to the team.
Hewitt stated, “We back ourselves against anyone. These guys put in the hard yards, not just this week leading into this tie, but throughout the year. They’ll be full of confidence when we start.”
Australia, the second most successful nation in Davis Cup history behind the United States, has reached the finals of the last two tournaments. They were defeated by Italy last year and Canada in 2022. Their last Davis Cup title came in 2003, with Hewitt securing a crucial singles win against Spain in the Melbourne final. Despite de Minaur’s absence, Australia’s Davis Cup journey continues, fueled by the determination of a talented squad seeking to bring the prestigious trophy back to their nation.
