Tennis: Alex de Minaur spearheads Australian comeback win over France in Germany

As the tennis world paid tribute to Roger Federer, the Australian Davis Cup team took its tribute to the courts in Germany.

Alex de Minaur played with ‘heart and passion’. Picture: Martin Rose/Getty Images

Alex de Minaur says “heart and passion” drove his stirring singles Davis Cup win that helped propel Australia to a 2-1 win over France and almost certain qualification for the finals.

After Jason Kubler lost his team’s opening match, de Minaur came from behind in a three-set thriller before doubles stars Matt Ebden and Max Purcell sealed the win in Hamburg to give captain Lleyton Hewitt’s unbeaten team maximum points from their two ties.

Even before taking on hosts Germany in Sunday’s final tie of the week, the Australians looked assured of a top-two place in their group that guarantees a quarter-final spot at the start of finals week in Spain in November.

“Heart, that’s what it is, that’s what Davis Cup brings out of you,” de Minaur said after his 6-3 1-6 6-4 victory over Benjamin Bonzi.

“Heart and passion – you’ll do anything for your country, so I’m happy I got a win for my country.”

Kubler lost the opening rubber to French veteran Richard Gasquet 6-2 6-4 before de Minaur revived the tie and then the doubles stars took out a straight-sets win for a “proud” captain Hewitt.

“I‘m really proud of the team,” he said.

🇦🇺Back to back tie wins for the Aussies 🇦🇺

The strong duo of Purcell and Ebden beat Mahut and Rinderknech in straight sets 6-4 6-4#DavisCup#byRakutenpic.twitter.com/D3xnXpnoHs

— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) September 15, 2022

“We knew it wasn‘t going to be easy. Kubler left it all out there, then Alex never gave up and was able to find a way in the end, digging deep to give our doubles the opportunity to win it for us.”

After de Minaur’s stirring win, Australia’s Wimbledon champions Ebden and Purcell demonstrated their prowess again in the doubles decider with a 6-4 6-4 win over Arthur Rinderknech and Nicolas Mahut that never looked in doubt.

“It doesn’t matter how you play, how you do it, as long as you find a way to get a win. That was my job today and I was happy I was able to do that,” de Minaur said.