Australia led by Lleyton Hewitt bid farewell to the Davis Cup 2024 in the semifinals, after Italy defeated them 2-0. Jannik Sinner and Matteo Berrettini secured two victories against Alex de Miñaur and Thanasi Kokkinakis, propelling Italy into the final for the second consecutive year. Meanwhile, the Australians leave with a sense of having been able to give more. In a press conference, De Miñaur and Hewitt discussed the challenge of defeating the world number 1 player and how the captain is proud of his players’ efforts.
– A Tough Match
ALEX DE MIÑAUR: “It’s never easy to play against the world number 1. He’s playing with a lot of confidence. It was a tough match and I had opportunities. But yes, he hasn’t won a million matches this year for no reason. There’s a reason for that. It’s been tough, there are things to improve, I hope next time I have a better chance.”
– What’s it like playing against Sinner?
DE MIÑAUR: “It’s like trying to solve a puzzle that not many people have succeeded in. That’s probably the best way to describe it. His ball speed and consistency make him maintain his focus throughout the match. So, if you want to go out there and beat him, you have to play your best tennis. Especially in crucial points, you have to step up. He comes out, he’s solid, plays well, and in key moments, he takes that step forward. He’s a very tough player to face this year, just like other opponents have felt as well.”
– Broke the racket on match point. How did you feel after the defeat?
DE MIÑAUR: “Right now, I regret that. I’m not going to say I’m happy to have lost this match. This is something we’ve been trying to win as a team for a while, we’ve put in a great effort over the past four years, and everyone on the team has done their part. It’s been incredible to be part of this team. I would have liked to give a little more, to give some of my best tennis in the final stages this year, but looking at it all together, it wasn’t good timing for us as a team. We’ve had some injuries at crucial moments when we were playing our best tennis; we could have probably taken it. But that’s how it is, and we’ll always have next year.”
– Kokkinakis Was Close to Victory
LLEYTON HEWITT: “It’s very tough for all of them. They’ve worked hard to give themselves a chance to be here and get close again. Thanasi left everything on the court. Berrettini played a fantastic match, all three sets. He could have easily won in straight sets as well. He had his chances in the first set, and Thanasi did great to find a way to come out on top. We had an early break point in the second set, and if we could have read his second serve better, it could have been a bit different. Thanasi found strength, and we almost had a chance to break at the end of the third set. But that’s tennis sometimes. I’m super proud of the guys and the effort they’ve put in for the whole team.”
