‘Incredibly frustrating’: Aussies cop Davis Cup whack

Alexei Popyrin sent down nine aces and struck 30 winners to record a stunning straight-sets victory over Pedro Martinez in Australia’s Davis Cup tie against Spain.
But it wasn’t enough to get Australia over the line against Spain, losing 2-1 despite world No.3 Carlos Alcaraz having elected to sit out the tie.
Both teams were guaranteed passage through to the next stage having won both of their first two ties, which prompted Alcaraz to rest himself.
READ MORE: The phone call coach must make as nightmare looms
READ MORE: Piastri’s ‘perfect drive’ leads to thrilling victory
READ MORE: Lyon’s candid admission over Warnie ‘shadow’
Jordan Thompson lost the first rubber in three sets. Getty Images for ITF
The loss meant Spain topped Group B, with Lleyton Hewitt’s men in second.
The Aussies now face a daunting prospect in the next stage of the competition, set to face either Italy or the USA in the Final 8 in Malaga in November.
Italy is led by world No.1 Jannik Sinner, while five Americans are in the top-20 of the ATP world rankings.
In the opening singles rubber, Jordan Thompson took the first set against Pablo Carreno Busta before the Spaniard rallied to clinch the second.
Thompson was serving for the match up 5-3 in the deciding set, but a couple of crucial errors gave Carreno Busta the break back. The Spaniard would prevail in the tiebreaker 2-6, 6-2, 7-6(3).
Watch the 2024 Davis Cup tennis for free on 9Now.
Alexei Popyrin won his rubber in straight sets to level the tie. Getty Images for ITF
Popyrin then unleashed the full force of his devastating forehand – 24 of his 30 winners coming in that fashion – to beat Martinez comfortably 6-4, 6-4 and level the tie.
“It was quite disappointing for me to kind of let the team down on the first day, but I managed to bounce back today and put one point on the board for the team,” Popyrin said.
“I think just the nerves from the first match got the better of me a little bit. Honestly, it’s a different feeling playing Davis Cup, playing for your country … but I managed that really well today, and I’m super proud of that.”
It meant Australia’s hopes lay in the safe hands of Max Purcell and Matt Ebden, who had won eight of their nine Davis Cup matches together.
Taking on doubles world No.1 Marcel Granollers and Martinez, backing up from his loss to Popyrin, the Aussies clinched the first set with a late break, but were broken themselves early in the second and never got it back.
In the deciding third, the Aussie pair were down 0-40 at 2-3 on Purcell’s serve. They saved two break points, but a Granollers overhead delivered what would eventually be the killer blow, holding on to the break to win 5-7, 6-4, 6-4.
Thompson said his loss was “incredibly frustrating”.
“Up 5-2, [he was] 15-30, [then I] serve for the match, and lose the match, and probably won more points than I lost,” Thompson said.
“It’s incredibly frustrating, especially when you’re doing it for Australia, but you have to give credit to him. He definitely lifted after that first set. He started serving better, he went into lockdown mode … and he turned it into a real battle.
The Aussies were already guaranteed progression through to the Final 8, but now have a much tougher first-up opponent. Getty Images for ITF
“But I feel like I should have put that one away.”
Elsewhere, Great Britain failed to qualify after losing to Canada.
The British needed a 3-0 win against the Canadians in Manchester, but Dan Evans lost 6-0, 7-5 to Denis Shapovalov to end Britain’s hopes in the opening match.
Felix Auger-Aliassime then defeated Jack Draper 7-6 (8), 7-5 to seal Canada’s victory.
The Final 8 in Malaga begins on November 19.