Australia comfortably advanced to the Davis Cup championship for the second consecutive year by decisively defeating Finland 2-0 on Friday night in Málaga.
In the first match, Alexei Popyrin earned his first victory in the Davis Cup, remaining composed in a highly intense first set and ultimately defeating Otto Virtanen 7-6 (5), 6-2. Following this, Alex de Minaur sealed the win with an outstanding display, beating Emil Ruusuvuori 6-4, 6-3 and securing a spot for Australia in the final.
Lleyton Hewitt, Australia’s Davis Cup captain, stated that nothing can be taken for granted in the Davis Cup, regardless of the format. He acknowledged the challenge of facing tough opponents with only a day to prepare for each match.
The Finnish expat community made their presence known at the José María Martín Carpena Arena during Finland’s opening match, just as they did in the surrounding area. They filled the stands with their chants and energy, which proved to be a challenge for Popyrin as he battled his nerves in the first set. However, he was able to find his powerful first serve when it counted and defeat Virtanen with his superior skills, securing a significant victory under intense pressure.
Popyrin expressed feeling a level of nerves he had never felt before in his life while playing his first tie and first rubber of the Davis Cup. He was able to maintain his composure and concentrate on his serve, taking advantage of any opportunities that arose.
The fact that Finland has made it to the semi-finals has been surprising, but what was even more unexpected was their victory over defending champions Canada, despite their top-ranked player Ruusuvuori being unable to play due to a shoulder injury. It was evident that their chances of winning against Australia were slim without their only singles player in the top 150. Although Ruusuvuori’s shoulder had improved, he was still unable to serve at full strength.
During their 95-minute match, De Minaur utilized his depth, defensive skills, and willingness to attack short balls and dominate points from the baseline to control Ruusuvuori’s movements on the court. Ultimately, De Minaur’s ability to maintain consistency set him apart from his opponent, leading him to secure a spot in the final and further solidify his impressive year in tennis.
De Minaur expressed that the match was a bit of a relief for him. He acknowledged the incredible team effort, as mentioned by Lleyton. De Minaur also praised Alexei for his return to the Australian team after three to four years and playing in the semi-final against a player ranked 170, but who performed like a top-50 player. Alexei’s massive win was a significant contribution to the team’s success.
Skip the promotion for the newsletter.
after newsletter promotion
This year, Australia will strive to improve upon their previous loss to Canada in the final, facing either Italy or Serbia.
Hewitt expressed his pride in the team’s hard work. He acknowledged that Sunday’s opponent will be a formidable challenge, but he is confident that the team will give their all on the court.
Source: theguardian.com
