Cool Kyrgios puts Aussies in game
lasting almost four hours on Pat Rafter Arena.
In the lead-up to the firstround tie, Tomic claimed Australia couldn’t win the Davis Cup without him. However, the future appears bright, judging by de Minaur.
“Australia’s got a good one there,” Zverev said of world No.139 de Minaur. “He is playing unbelievable tennis for an 18-year-old.”
De Minaur cut a shattered figure after the match but still justified Hewitt’s surprise selection as Australia’s No. 2 singles player behind Nick Kyrgios.
He was named to make his debut after a stellar summer run that included a Brisbane International semi-final berth and his first ATP tour final last month in Sydney. AUSTRALIA levelled the Davis Cup first-round tie with Germany yesterday after Nick Kyrgios brushed aside JanLennard Struff in straight sets in Brisbane.
World No.14 Kyrgios, ranked 44 places higher than his opponent, overpowered the German No.2 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in just over 90 minutes at Pat Rafter Arena. Earlier, Germany drew first blood in the best of five hardcourt tie when world No.5 Alexander Zverev dug deep to hold out plucky rookie Alex de Minaur 7-5, 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) in just under four hours.
Australian No.1 Kyrgios was in cruise control for much of the match, in an ominous sign for Zverev before they meet in the reverse singles.
Kyrgios was at his nonchalant best, oozing confi- dence after a stellar summer run that included a Brisbane International triumph on the same court last month — his first ATP tour win on home soil — and an Australian Open fourth-round finish.
Australia will look to take a 2-1 lead in today’s doubles when Matthew Ebden and John Peers take on Peter Gojowczyk and Tim Puetz.
The winner of the tie ad- vances to the quarter-finals from April 6 to 8, either hosting Great Britain or travelling to face Spain. The losing nation will contest September’s World Cup playoffs, to be drawn on April 10.
Australia, looking to end a 15-year Davis Cup title drought, has reached the World Group semi-finals twice in the past three years.