Rinky Hijikata and Jordan Thompson put forth a dazzling show in the rubber doubles match. The exhibition opened on the first evening of the competition. This came after Hijikata’s marathon singles match versus Raphael Collignon that took an eye-popping 2.5 hours. Under the leadership of Lleyton Hewitt as captain, Australia looked to make the quarter-finals for the fourth straight year.
The game opened with Australia taking control immediately. Under the anticipation of a potential upset, Hijikata and Thompson quickly opened up a 6-2 lead in the first set. The Belgian duo countered crisply, displaying laser-like serves that stretched the Australian side from side to side. Despite their early advantage, Hijikata and Thompson struggled to convert opportunities and ultimately faced a fierce challenge from their opponents.
A Test of Resilience
The contest became particularly salty as Hijikata was forced to save four break points. He exhibited extraordinary resilience by beating them back against all odds. This all-important period of play gave the Australians enough momentum to draw level in the match and stay alive in the tournament. The dramatic doubles match went two hours and 24 minutes, culminating in a tooth-and-nail victory for Hijikata and Thompson.
Their victory was a display of their artistic and technical genius. It was equally important for Australia’s aspirations in the Davis Cup. For the record, Australia were runners-up in both 2022 and 2023 and semi-finalists the year in between. Combined with such a powerful legacy, the expectation to make it out of group stage this year was high.
Singles Showdown
Earlier in the day, Alex de Minaur delivered a commanding performance against Belgium’s Zizou Bergs, ranked 46th in the world. De Minaur, world No. 8 and six-time Grand Slam quarter-finalist, made no mistake. He prevailed in extremely lopsided showings of 6-2, 7-5. His win was monumental, given the circumstances, as it pushed the tie to a deciding fifth rubber, keeping the dreams of Australia alive.
His performance in the Australia v Norway first round match against Casper Bergs illustrated de Minaur’s tactical smarts and on-court conditioning. It was his poise under duress that became the key factor in swinging momentum back to the side of the Aussies. The triumphant results in both matches were a testament to the sheer talent that the Australian side boasts.
Looking Ahead
As a result of this commanding victory, Australia is very much in the race for a quarter-finals berth. The addition of alternative player Aleksandr Vukic only deepens the roster’s talents, strengthening the side as they build toward their next test. There’s no denying that the team’s performance so far has showcased their heart and grit, a hallmark of the teams that have gone deep in years past.
With Australia now deep into their own Davis Cup journey, the goal will be to carry that momentum forward. The combination of seasoned players like de Minaur, alongside promising talents such as Hijikata and Thompson, positions them strongly for future matches.
