In a season of significant breakthroughs by Australia’s leading men, an argument can be mounted that the deeds of the Davis Cup team in Spain this week are the most impressive to date.

Alex de Minaur has reached quarterfinals at the last three grand slams. Alexei Popyrin won the Montreal Masters. Jordan Thompson broke through for an ATP Tour title and is ranked inside the top 30.

Australia as a nation has 10 men ranked inside the top 100, Matt Ebden and John Peers won an Olympic gold medal and Thompson partnered Max Purcell to a US Open doubles crown last week after Ebden won the Australian Open with Indian Rohan Bopanna.

But progressing through a “Group of Death” in Valencia this week, which Australia is on the cusp of doing, to qualify for the Davis Cup Finals in Saville this year without the injury-sidelined de Minaur is impressive and underlines the nation’s depth of talent.

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Little wonder former world No.1 and Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt feels extremely proud of a team that has finished runner-up for the past two years to Canada and Italy and is seeking its first win in the competition since 2003.

After edging France 2-1 in the opening tie of the semi-finals on Tuesday in Spain, Thanasi Kokkinakis inspired the Australians to a 3-0 sweep of their tie against the Czech Republic which finished early on Friday AEST.

It propelled Australia to the top of a group also featuring the Carlos Alcaraz-led Spain, who the Aussies will play late on Saturday night in Spain, and while Hewitt warned there is much to play out over the next couple of days, his side is in a strong position to qualify.

“There is a bit to play out over the next couple of days with the other teams and we will see where that lands, but we can only do what we can control and we will get ready to give our best effort on Sunday and see what the situation is,” Hewitt said.

“As I said when I first got here, I had full belief in the five players I have got in the team and I still absolutely do. I am so proud of them and their efforts and what they have put themselves through in a really tough calendar as well.

“It is not easy on the back of a grand slam and a couple of the boys obviously got here extremely late. The team camaraderie is incredible and they feed off each other and we are getting the results on the back of that.”

After playing inspired tennis to edge talented Frenchman Arthur Fils, who took a set from de Minaur in the 4th Rd at Wimbledon, Kokkinakis rose to the occasion against another emerging star Jakub Mensik to win 6-2 6-7 (2) 6-3 to give Australia the early lead.

Popyrin, who was well beaten by Ugo Humbert on Tuesday, had clinched the opening game when Tomas Machac, who took a set from Alcaraz on Wednesday, withdrew injured for the second match in succession.

2022 Wimbledon doubles champions Max Purcell and Matt Ebden whipped through the doubles against Mensik and Adam Pavlasek 6-4 6-2.

Hewitt praised the performance of Kokkinakis, who was a late addition to the team given the injury to de Minaur.

The South Australian recorded an excellent win over dual-grand slam champion Stefanos Tsitsipas at the US Open, only to fall to world No.30 Nuno Borges in the second round.

“Thanasi did great,” Hewitt said.

“He came out and played fantastic and obviously had a small hiccup there serving for the match in the second set, but it was how he responded when challenged which was so impressive to me.

“I am really proud of his effort. He was fantastic to back up from a couple of days ago as well and that is going to give him the world of belief in himself under that kind of pressure.

“Pop was ready to go but did not get much of a chance. We will certainly take it though. And we know how important, in this situation and this format, to win 3-0 and we certainly weren’t letting up and the boys knew that.”

Should Spain defeat France in a tie beginning late on Friday AEST, Australia will progress regardless of the result. If France defeats the host nation, Australian would still be in a strong position, but might need to clinch a match against Spain to ensure progression.