Lleyton Hewitt slams Davis Cup organisers as Australia lose final to Canada Kokkinakis de Minaur

Australian captain Lleyton Hewitt has lashed out at the Davis Cup organizers for not allowing his team to play the final on home soil as Canada clinched the title with a sweepstakes victory in Spain on Sunday.

First, Thanasi Kokkinakis was put to the sword by Denis Shapovalov before Alex de Minaur was beaten 6-3 6-4 by Felix Auger-Aliassime as Canada won the Men’s Tennis World Cup for the first time in the competition’s 122-year annals .

But Australia’s frustrating 19-year wait for a 29th title continues after their gutsy, unexpected run to the final in Malaga ended with the searing quality of two top-20 stars proving too much for Lleyton Hewitt’s fighters.

‘I hate the boys. They put in the dedication and the work and got absolutely everything right all year,” Hewitt said.

“They left it all there again; we fell short, but I couldn’t be prouder – and all of Australia should be proud.’

Earlier, Hewitt lashed out at the organizers for putting Australia behind before the final started.

Changes to the format of the competition have ended five-set matches and switched to neutral venues for finals.

Australian captain Lleyton Hewitt (pictured with Alex de Minaur during the final) said the whole country should be proud of the team after they became the country’s first Davis Cup decider in 19 years

Thanasi Kokkinakis (pictured) branded himself ‘virtually useless’ after falling in straight sets to Denis Shapovalov, 6-2 6-4

‘I would love it [the final] to be in Australia… I’m disappointed that the boy doesn’t get to play for 15,000 at the Rod Laver Arena,” he said.

‘When it [the Cup] changed to this format, it was only supposed to be twice a year, so we added another week. It’s been a damn long year for everyone, and we’re a long way from home, too. Do not forget that.

“I don’t like the chance of this last series ever being played in Australia.”

It was such an extended win – the most one-sided of the entire finals week – that it didn’t require a deciding doubles, which would have seen the Aussie pairing of Jordan Thompson and Max Purcell against Auger-Aliassime and Vasek Pospisil.

No team without a top-20 player has won the title since Argentina in 2016 and that lack of an Australian world beater was striking on Sunday (Monday AEDT) when they missed out on a first victory since 2003.

After a dejected Kokkinakis berated himself for being ‘virtually useless’ in his 6-2 6-4 shredder by an inspired Shapovalov, the never-say-die Australian No. 1 de Minaur knew he would need a career potential. decisive victory over Auger-Aliassime.

The big names were in force among the 9,500 spectators at the Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena in the Spanish resort, with Novak Djokovic taking his son to watch and football star Gerard Pique, overlord of the new Davis Cup, in the VIP stand.

And they were all in awe of Auger-Aliassime, who looked every bit like the future grand slam winner long seen as his tennis destination. Maybe even Melbourne in January?

“It’s a dream come true,” beamed the 22-year-old, who had won the 2015 junior Davis Cup title with Shapovalov in a partnership that could now dominate the senior competition after two finals in three years.

Canada lifted the trophy for the first time ever with the comprehensive victory in Spain

“It’s a special team. Hopefully this generation can take this very far.’

The Minaur was a picture of misery after the languid strength of the world No. 6 finally overwhelmed his resistance.

His brilliance has the Canadian looking good at next year’s Australian Open, but even in the final game, when he pulled off an incredible backhand counterpunch to go 30-0 ahead on Auger-Aliassime’s serve, De Minaur wanted to Just no. t throw up.

“It’s tough, but so many Australian Davis Cup players have followed our journey every step of the year all year round and been on this roller coaster with us. It just shows what a family this Australian Davis Cup team is,” said Spain-based De Minaur, whose family turned out to be cheering.

The Aussies may not have won a set in the final, but the Minaur (pictured in the final) said the team is so close they are a ‘family’

Shapovalov, who had a mixed week in Malaga and struggled with a back problem in his semi-final loss on Saturday, chose the perfect moment to show off his full repertoire of knacks against the outclassed Kokkinakis.

Whether Kokkinakis, who had lost his semi-final rubber with Croatia’s Borna Coric, should have been chosen instead of Thompson, who had won his quarter-final rubber, was debatable – and in reality neither of them could have possibly faced Shapovalov in this mood.

Kokkinakis, who had not played tour singles eight weeks before Malaga, struggled against the world number 18, who sprayed 23 winners with rapier shots from both wings in an 89-minute lesson.