Australia - Czech Republic
HUNTER-DE MINAUR/Skoch-Svrcina
6-2,6-3
THE MODERATOR: Congrats to Australia. Through to the quarter finals on Friday. We would like to hear from the captain with (no microphone.)?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Just the effort from the whole team. Coming out here we knew we probably couldn't finish the higher second-place team so we had to win tonight.
We had to somehow win two points and we were able to do that. But it has been a really good comradery with the whole team and the whole squad and everyone. It has been a lot of fun this week.
It is good to have Maya back out there healthy tonight as well. She'll definitely be better for the outing tonight as well.
Obviously Alex had to step up and keep us in it. Played a fantastic match from start to finish.
Was just in the end too tough mentally I think, which helped him physically as the match went on. For him to back up and played a great mixed double with Storm. A good way to finish the round-robin.
Q. Maya, Leighton mentioned how disruptive how the last few days have been for you. Can you give us an insight what that has been like and how you felt out tonight given the preparation?
MAYA JOINT: Yeah, just bad timing on my part. It felt really good to be back out here today. I felt ready to play and ready to compete.
Yeah, I mean, I love the atmosphere. I was pretty disappointed I couldn't play the first match. Yeah, glad I was able to come back out here tonight.
Q. Alex, the way you played this evening, as Leighton was just saying, is pretty darn outstanding. What is it about Mensik's game that works well for you because that's the fifth consecutive time you've beaten him?
ALEX DE MINAUR: Yeah, look, more than anything, I'm just happy with the way I bounce back. I felt a little bit disappointed with my first match and, obviously, didn't want to start off the year like that.
But I had some kind of perspective. I thought he, Casper, played a great match. For me it was about doing all the right things and not putting the warning signs up.
Right, I'm still playing some great tennis. I still back myself. I have got a lot of confidence.
Today I was able to play a really good match from start to finish. Yeah, there was no problems with my serve, which was a big problem on Day 1. I am very happy it was able to go away.
As I said, super happy to still be in the tournament and we get to have another crack.
Q. Alex, the Davis Cup line-ups were announced overnight and I was wondering if you could talk about your decision not to play and, Leighton, if you could talk about the team in general and if you had any discussions with Popyrin
at all?
ALEX DE MINAUR: Yep. So, over the last month I have been in constant communication with Leighton and have decided that with the issues that my body has given me throughout last year it was smartest to kind of just sit this one out. I'm definitely going to be available for the next one.
Yeah, I'll be cheering on the boys and super excited for that.
LEIGHTON HEWITT: Yeah, obviously when the draw came out it was extremely tough. Considering the time of the year, where it is, the conditions, the surface. So many variables.
For me, it has really been working with Alex, to be honest, to not put him in a position like he was a year and a half ago and had to play injured for 9 months.
So big picture in mind. We've come up with a plan that we think is the best for him moving forward.
Alexei didn't make himself available for this tie. I would have loved to have called on Alexei obviously and especially with his game style on clay and the weapons he possesses.
Then after that, obviously, we've gone for guys that give us a lot of depth in singles matches, but also we got a couple of good doubles options amongst the team.
There's so many unknowns though. Not many of our guys have played at that higher altitude or anything close to that either. So we won't 100% know the conditions until we get over there, but I feel like I have plenty of choices to choose from.
Q. Alex, touching on the Davis Cup and not playing in it, how hard was that decision for you?
ALEX DE MINAUR: Yeah, it was a brutal decision, Ryan. The Davis Cup has been my priority for basically my whole career, right.
For me there's no greater goal than to be able to lift the trophy one day with Leighton, with the team, for Australia again, right. So that's been a priority of mine. We've gotten awfully close for a couple of years.
My focus is keep on improving as a player to help out the team when they need me. I have got full faith in all the Aussie players that are going to Ecuador.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports