By Marc McGowan
Australia could not capitalise on Carlos Alcaraz’s absence or Alexei Popyrin’s singles victory, suffering a costly Davis Cup defeat to Spain that will make their title bid all the more difficult.
Lleyton Hewitt’s squad and Spain were already certain to finish top two in their group and qualify for the knockout quarter-finals in November, so Alcaraz prioritised rest as the hosts turned to Pablo Carreno Busta and Pedro Martinez in singles.
Alexei Popyrin after levelling the tie for Australia.Credit: Getty Images for ITF
But Spain were still too good in Valencia as they finished on top of group B, relegating Australia to second and a clash with Jannik Sinner’s reigning champions Italy or the United States, who have five top-20 singles stars.
Popyrin fired down nine aces and struck 24 of his 30 winners off his devastating forehand to level the tie with a 6-4, 6-4 defeat of Martinez, after Thompson lost a 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-3) heartbreaker to Carreno Busta that came back to bite Australia.
Those results left Max Purcell and Matt Ebden – who captured the Wimbledon doubles title together two years ago – with a must-win contest for the second time at the event.
Martinez backed up in the doubles with world No.1 Marcel Granollers, and they handed the Australian pair just their second loss in 10 Davis Cup matches, prevailing 5-7, 6-4, 6-4.
“We were ecstatic a couple of nights ago when we got told Spain had won, and we were guaranteed to go through,” Hewitt said.
“We came here with one goal this week, and that was to qualify for the finals, and we were able to do that, so really proud of the boys and the effort they’ve put in.
“To try and ask players to play the second day after a grand slam finishes is not easy, and the old format, I used to have to do it, but you’d have until the Friday before you had to play. To play on Tuesday is ridiculous, so I couldn’t be prouder of my boys … and they’ve done their country proud. We’ll be ready for November.”
A tight opening set swung the Australians’ way with some sublime volleying in the 12th game before a magnificent Purcell return gave them a one-set lead.
Jordan Thompson, Cruz Hewitt, Alex de Minaur and Thanasi Kokkinakis cheer on Matt Ebden and Max Purcell.Credit: Getty Images for ITF
There was a twist when the Spaniards broke Ebden for an early lead in the second set that proved enough for them to force a deciding set.
Granollers and Martinez landed almost 80 per cent of their first serves for the match to mostly keep the Aussies at bay, but Purcell and Ebden still had the first break point of the third set.
That chance came and went in the second game, only for Purcell to fall in a 0-40 hole at 2-3 – and they relented on the third of those break points when Granollers nailed an overhead winner. The Australians could not catch up from there.
Australia have reemerged as a Davis Cup force under Hewitt – whose son Cruz served as “orange boy” in Valencia – losing the past two finals to Canada and Italy, and overcoming France and Czech Republic last week despite Alex de Minaur (hip) withdrawing.
Thanasi Kokkinakis was Australia’s hero in those ties with singles wins in the No.2 slot over Frenchman Arthur Fils and Czech up-and-comer Jakub Mensik after replacing team spearhead de Minaur in the squad.
Hewitt’s men are aiming to end Australia’s 21-year Davis Cup title drought, which extends to when Hewitt, Mark Philippoussis, Todd Woodbridge and Wayne Arthurs combined to down Spain in the 2003 final.
Popyrin had a nervous start to the week filling de Minaur’s void as the No.1 singles player, suffering a straight-sets loss to French star Ugo Humbert, but was a different player against Martinez.
Martinez troubled Popyrin at times despite not boasting the same firepower, yet the Australian, who won his maiden Masters 1000 title in Montreal last month, always did just enough.
Jordan Thompson served for the match but lost to Pablo Carreno Busta.Credit: Getty Images for ITF
Most critically, Popyrin staved off three break points – the only ones he faced all match – at 0-1 in the second set before ripping a series of ferocious forehands past Martinez in the seventh game to break the Spaniard’s serve and as good as seal his victory.
“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.”
Thompson replaced Kokkinakis as Australia’s No.2 singles player, and looked primed to beat Carreno Busta for the first time and give his country the lead when he served for the match at 5-3 in the final set.
However, Carreno Busta staged a brilliant comeback, with the contest turning on consecutive epic rallies in that Thompson service game – both of which the Spaniard won, including a bold inside-out backhand winner.
Thompson’s forehand let him down when he needed it most, as Carreno Busta broke back, then took over from the baseline, just like in the second set, to post a seesawing three-set triumph.
Spain’s former world No.10 has been back playing regularly since only last month after an extended battle with elbow tendonitis that threatened his career.
“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, but I feel like I should have put that one away.”
News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport are sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.