PA Media/DPA
Madrid
Australia reached the semi-finals of the Davis Cup with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the United States, whose late doubles gamble backfired in Malaga on Thursday.
Thanasi Kokkinakis gave Australia the ideal start with a 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (16-14) victory over Ben Shelton in the opening singles, the world number 77 saving four match points before converting his seventh in an epic tie-break.
Taylor Fritz made light work of beating Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-4 to level the tie before Matthew Ebden and Jordan Thompson defeated Shelton and Tommy Paul in the decisive doubles.
Paul and Shelton were late replacements for doubles specialists Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram but their lack of experience told in a 6-4, 6-4 loss.
Captain Lleyton Hewitt, who was part of the last Australia team to win the Davis Cup in 2003, told Tennis Channel: “We’ve got a ... rich history in this competition over a number of years, well over 100 years, so these boys know it’s a great honour every time you get the chance to wear the green and gold out here.
“We’ve had a group of six guys that have really put their hands up the last three or four years now. They’ve gelled together well and I’m just super proud of the whole team as a collective.” Italy, led by world number one Jannik Sinner, face Argentina later on Thursday, with Germany set to take on the Netherlands in the other semi-final.
In a thrilling opening contest, Kokkinakis saved four match points to edge a 30-point third-set tie-break against Shelton, putting Australia ahead with a 6-1 4-6 7-6 (16-14) victory after two hours and 17 minutes in Malaga.
Fritz, who rose into the world’s top four after finishing runner-up to Jannik Sinner at last week’s ATP Finals, responded with a clinical 6-3 6-4 win against the ninth-ranked De Minaur to force a decider.
However, Ebden and Thompson proved too strong for Paul and Shelton in the doubles match and completed an efficient 6-4 6-4 win with a break of serve in both sets.
That sent 28-time champions Australia into the nation’s third successive Davis Cup semi-final and the pair celebrated with a chest bump before embracing team captain Lleyton Hewitt - winner of two Grand Slam singles titles.
