Australia made the connection in the Davis Cup against Austria. Also and especially because of the energy of Playing Captain Lleyton Hewitt.
By Jens Huiber from Graz
80 percent, that’s how high Thomas Muster had assessed the chance before the Davis Cup doubles between Austria and Australia that the hosts could already celebrate their promotion to the world group on Saturday.
80 percent are 20 percent less than Lleyton Hewitt, unfounded rumor after retiring from tennis, is prepared to give. Especially on the court. Away from the venues, Hewitt is always very courteous, Dominic Thiem said on Friday. When it comes to winning points, games, sets, matches, “Rusty” still has an energy level of which he would like to give half to Nick Kyrgios.
This can also be seen on Saturday afternoon. A “Come on!” scream never sounded lonelier than at the first break for Hewitt and partner John Peers at the beginning of the second set, but it came from the heart. Almost 6,000 Austrians have remained silent, even the dozen or so Australian fans have exercised restraint, but that is exactly what Lleyton Hewitt is unfamiliar with.
Of course: also the Austrians pushed themselves, the trumpeter in the audience had animating songs in his portfolio this time. And a fifth movement was by no means out of reach for Jürgen Melzer and Oliver Marach.
But this is the way Dominic Thiem must judge it. He has actually already prepared for the hard courts in the St. Petersburg Hall, but now the sand hammers are unpacked again. If you now judge the poker player Lleyton Hewitt correctly, then on Sunday from 11 o’clock the Austrian number one will face. And not Alex de Minaur, who was helpless and without a chance against Dennis Novak from the second set.
Millman spared himself until the double, where he submitted his application as future Davis Cup captain. It is unlikely that he can torture Thiem, the Lichtenwörther has all won the duels so far, the last one in summer at the Rothenbaum in Hamburg clearly.
Lleyton Hewitt will then have taken his place on his bench again. Theoretically. In truth, the 37-year-old will jump up at every opportunity and cheer for his husband. And if the game goes well, consider whether he should perhaps reactivate himself for the last singles against Novak.