Australia is banking on Tomic continuing his impressive Davis Cup record of 16 wins and three losses, to keep alive their hopes of a victory at Kooyong.
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Bob and Mike Bryan beat Hewitt and John Peers 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 4-6, 6-3 in the men’s doubles match to help United States of America take a 2-1 lead over Australia in the Davis Cup World Group tie in Melbourne on Saturday.
World No. 27 Nick Kyrgios withdrew before Thursday’s draw with a virus and back trouble, with Hewitt, in charge as Australia captain for the first time, nominated as his replacement.
Groth was nominated to partner doubles specialist John Peers in Saturday’s showdown against multiple Grand Slam-winners Bob and Mike Bryan. The line-up is subject to change.
John Isner of the United States plays a forehand shot to Australia’s Bernard Tomic during their Davis Cup singles match in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, March 6, 2016.
“It was a very, very good performance for me and certainly I’ve played some matches in a lot in my career where I’ve struggled on return but I think today I was pretty solid”.
If Hewitt does take part he will be the first playing captain for Australia since Norman Brookes in 1919.
He was the better of the pair in the opening two sets before Hewitt lifted in the next two.
“I’m really satisfied with that”, Isner said.
“Bernie stepped up when we needed him to”, Hewitt said. He dropped his serve twice in the first two sets, leaving some to wonder whether he’d made the right call to step up ahead of Groth. They secured a vital early break in the deciding set, and as quickly as Hewitt and Peers had clawed their way back into the contest, it was over – the U.S had one foot in the Davis Cup quarterfinals. “We all get to see what he’s done over the years and what he’s done for not only tennis but Australian tennis and world tennis, and he’s led the way for Davis Cup in Australia for many years and it was an honour playing with him, and to share the court and see how he handles it”.
“We always knew it was going to be very hard coming down here”, usa captain Jim Courier said.
Journalist Ben Rothenberg – in his article for Fox Sports Australia – opined that the 35-year-old Hewitt would be “selfish” if he replaces countryman Sam Groth to feature in the reverse singles.
The two nations have compiled 60 Davis Cup titles between them, and their first meeting since 1999 could end up going down to the wire.
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Hewitt has until an hour before the doubles tie to finalise his combination and choose between the team’s doubles specialist John Peers, Groth and himself. “If it wasn’t Davis Cup, I would’ve pulled out… but I pushed through”.
