Australia head into Wednesday’s Davis Cup tie with the Czech Republic missing the services of Thanasi Kokkinakis due to a slow-healing ankle injury.
The No. 65 who went a modest 1-1 this season in the abbreviated version of the once-proud international team competition, was unable to make the trip to Malaga for the wrapup to the Spanish run Davis event.
“He sprained his ankle during the match. He’s been working on it, but had a little setback last week,” former ATP No. 1 and current captain Lleyton Hewitt said of his side which lost the final here to Canada a year ago.
The Grand Slam and Davis Cup winner is also without Nick Kygios, who has played just one losing match on any court this season/
“Honestly, we have a lot of options, so I feel comfortable with Alexei (Popyrin) . He has had his best ATP year this season.
“I know that whoever I put in there will perform at their best and leave everything on the track. “We have complete confidence in the boys.”
He added: “”Last season we came a little blind, now we know the place, the hotel, the surface and all those things.
“It was good to get used to that, to take a step forward, but we also came here with a purpose.
“Last year brings back very good memories, but we are determined to go further.”
But the 42-year-old Hewitt who hung up his racquet in early 2016, can’t help but reflect on the glory days of the event, where the crowd-pleasing home-and-away format ruled.
After a Spanish management takeover with a failed guarantee of billions in the pocket of the International Tennis Federation, the competition is much reduced in both scale and fan appeal.
The current management is on its last legs and has called in the receivers, while playing a blame game with the ITF which approved the downsizing of the key property.
.“The most important thing is the home and away games. I have memories in recent years when I played with Cashy, Rafter, and these guys, the stands,” the
Davis campaigner with 43 ties and two finals in his resume said.
“Even when I returned to Spain I remember the year 2000, when (a young) Rafa Nadal carried the Spanish flag in front of more than 20,000 people, all of them booing and shouting at me. my against
“It was an incredible, dreamlike environment to play in.
“That’s what the Davis Cup was about. Whether playing at home in the semi-finals and in the Rod Laver Arena in the final or in France, Nice, or in Barcelona, it was an incredible experience
“Some of my best memories. Some of the hardest, but also some of the best.”
Main photo:-Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis celebrate winning Men’s doubles final Australian Open 2022 by Karl Winter International Sports Fotos Ltd
