Hewitt confident as De Minaur leads charge in 42-year first

by Admin
August 24, 2024

Australia’s Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt has never been more confident in the country’s male tennis players.

For the first time since 1982, there are 10 Australians inside the top 100 in the men’s singles tennis rankings on the ATP Tour.

Australia will also have two seeded players at the upcoming US Open — Alex de Minaur and Alexei Popyrin.

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Speaking ahead of the US Open Hewitt confirmed it remains “unknown” how De Minaur will perform as he prepares to take to the court for the first time in a month.

“I know he’s been doing absolutely everything in his power to get as close to 100% right for the US Open,” Hewitt told Tennis Australia.

Alex de Minaur in action. Getty

“He was desperate to play at the Olympics in the singles and he missed out on that. There’s certainly been frustration over the past four to five weeks.

“He’s a kid in a hurry, he wants everything to be happening now. I think his game style really suits the US Open.

“Fingers crossed he gets a good draw and can play himself into the tournament. If he can get through his first couple of rounds he will certainly be dangerous.”

Meanwhile, for De Minaur’s Olympic doubles partner Popyrin, his new found confidence is set to make him a powerful force.

“He was a little down on confidence going into the Olympics. We tweaked a couple of things in his game… and I thought we saw some of his best tennis in a long time at the Olympics on clay,” said Hewitt.

“I think that belief that he was going toe to toe with some of the best players at Roland Garros, playing for his country, gave him that inner belief. “

With fellow countryman Jordan Thompson also ranked just outside the top seeds, the nation is on the verge of having three athletes seeded at a grand slam — a feat that has not been seen since Hewitt, Mark Philippoussis and Pat Rafter were all seeded at Wimbledon in 2000.

Hewitt said the group was pushing each other to be better and go further.

“Australian men’s tennis is thriving,” he said.

“The last three or four years now, we’ve tried to put in place the right guys in Davis Cup teams that have gone out there and lead by example and that’s been a massive reason [for the revolution of in Australian men’s tennis].

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“They’ve all been pushing each other along on the ATP Tour throughout the year — all getting career-high rankings as well, which is great, as we as Alex de Minaur in the top 10.

“They’ve had guys to look up to as well and see that training discipline that some of these top guys have. Then everyone sort of says, ‘Well if they’re doing it, why can’t I go out there and have these results as well?’.

Alex De Minaur and Lleyton Hewitt ahead of the Paris 2024 opening ceremony. Getty

“So they’ve been pushing each other.”

Hewitt also credited the surge to the culture within Australian tennis.

“We’ve been pushing hard to have the right culture and I think we’ve really done that,” he said.

“There’s been a real team atmosphere when they’re on the road as well, away from Davis Cup ties, they come together and show that great camaraderie of being an Australian tennis player. It’s not easy with so many travelling weeks.”

The main draw kicks off on Monday, August 26.