Hewitt saves Australia in Davis Cup

Written by: Staff on 11th July 2011

Hewitt saves Australia in Davis Cup

Lleyton Hewitt of Australia returns to Robin Soderling of Sweden during their second round match for the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 23 July 2011. EPA/NEIL MUNNS |

Australia’s Davis Cup veteran Lleyton Hewitt has saved Australia in Davis Cup yet again. Thanks to Hewitt Australia have advanced to the World Group Playoff in September.

Australia now have an unbeatable 3-1 lead over China after Hewitt won against Zhang Ze 6-2 6-1 4-6 7-6 (2).

Australia’s Davis Cup Captain Pat Rafter rested Hewitt on the first day due to his feet problems.

Hewitt said after his win, “I had a slight dip of intensity and concentration at the start of the third set but to Zhang Ze’s credit he fought extremely hard from then on in and changed his game plan and played well for the next two sets and I was happy to get out of it in the fourth set.”

On Friday Bernard Tomic beat Zhang Ze 6-3 5-7 6-4 6-4. Marinko Matosevic who replaced Hewitt in the singles lost to Di Wu five sets.

The Aussies took a 2-1 lead on Saturday after Lleyton Hewitt and Chris Guccione beat Maoxin Gong and Zhe Li in three straight sets 6-4 6-4 6-4.

Australia are still waiting to find out who they will face in the World Group Playoff. Captain Pat Rafter said, “We’ll know on Tuesday who we’ll play and then we’ll make our call on what surface and what place.”