Groth’s efforts in rescuing Australia were also crucial. “The thing about Davis Cup is that you are not out there playing for yourself”.
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Masur consulted with Josh Eagle and Tony Roche about what combination to use for Sunday’s singles matches.
Earlier, Mikhail Kukushkin beat Australia’s 19-year-old Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 to give the visitors the lead on a controversial opening day for the home country.
Nick Kyrgios didn’t seem to bothered about being dropped from the clash, smiling as he watched Groth’s victory.
Sam Groth of Australia throws his racquet in the air after losing a game to Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan.
Lleyton Hewitt celebrating victory at the Davis Cup Quarter Final singles match in Darwin.
World number three Murray clinched his country’s first semi-final berth for 34 years with a 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3, 6-0 win over Gilles Simon, sealing the tie 3-1 after playing three days in succession at Queen’s Club in London. I was making too many mistakes but I didn’t care how I played.
He’ll play Aleksandr Nedovyesov.
In the end, Hewitt, the man who has played and won more Davis Cup matches than any other Aussie, sealed a historic comeback. What he remains is a passionate and committed warrior for the Davis Cup cause.
It was the first time since the Davis Cup final against the United States in 1939 that Australia has come back from a 2-0 deficit to win a tie – and it couldn’t have come at a better time. Groth immediately got up 4-1 in the first set, to then easily close on 6-3.
Groth, who had just two break points to Kukushkin’s 10, roared and vigorously pumped both fists, and the Darwin crowd erupted, as the Kazakh’s backhand sailed wide on the Australian’s first match point. The celebration was fitting after the finest moment of his career.
The selection decisions, though, were not unanimous.
“I hope that [Kyrgios and Kokkinakis] realise that no-one sits in judgement that they lost a tennis match”, Masur said.
Masur’s preferred option, the choice of Groth over Kyrgios, and then Hewitt in place of Kokkinakis for a live fifth rubber, was communicated to the players on Saturday night. “I kind of feel sorry for Nick in a way because it was nearly a little bit of hysteria about some of the stuff that went on at Wimbledon”, Masur said.
Hewitt and Groth kept Australia in the tie with a straight-sets doubles win over Andrey Golubev and Nedovyesov on Saturday, setting up a tense final day.
“They had great clarity; they knew exactly what they had to do with our backs against the wall”.
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Lleyton Hewitt has received the nod ahead of Thanasi Kokkinakis for the deciding match, with the Davis Cup legend to go head-to-head against world No. 115 Aleksandr Nedovyesov.
