Australia - 2
Great Britain - 1
THE MODERATOR: Lleyton, it came down to just the games percentage, but how proud are you to finish with a win? Your United Cup experience, if you can just sum up the day for us.
CAPTAIN LLEYTON HEWITT: Obviously extremely proud of the guys being able to turn it around and get the win in the end. We knew coming into today that it was going to be awfully tough and that potentially it could come back on some kind of count back with the sets or games or whatever as well, and trying to not only win our group potentially, but potentially be the best second-place team.
Obviously made it pretty tough going into that doubles for these two, but they left it all out there and got awfully close there at one stage. So it was nice that they could walk away and win the tie for us.
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. Liv, how important is it for your career to have played a match -- granted, it was not the result you wanted in that singles -- but to be able to play these sort of matches at this level?
OLIVIA GADECKI: Yeah, look, it's great for my tennis to be exposed to such a high level match after match. I'm still quite new to this level, so to be able to play two matches against some of the top players in the world is incredible.
I'm going to take it as an opportunity. Yeah, I'm really looking forward to the next couple of weeks.
Q. Lleyton, what was the mindset on changing the mixed doubles team?
CAPTAIN LLEYTON HEWITT: Well, I guess you saw how well Alex played the last couple of matches. I feel like, yeah, the way he was hitting the ball and, yeah, he deserved the opportunity to have it on his racquet knowing that we could only afford to lose a few games out there.
Yeah, going out there and playing in front of that crowd on Ken Rosewall Arena as well, it's something he deserved to go out there and get another opportunity. I thought the matchup with him playing with Liv was our best matchup to try and lose as least amount of games as possible.
Q. Alex, going back to your singles match, do you mind, A, taking us through that point, and I think after the match you said, That was the old me, I'm back. Can you elaborate on that, please.
ALEX de MINAUR: Look, obviously now officially last year I struggled with an injury that sidelined me and took away one of my biggest assets, which was my movement. It took me a very long time to get back.
It was safe to say that it had been a long time since I felt my feet moving as quickly as they did today and doing all of that without pain. It was a really good feeling. So kind of gave me -- you know, gave me some goose bumps because it felt good to finally be back at that level.
Q. Lleyton, you missed out on qualifying, as you said, by a few games. Some of the other teams in other groups that qualified played players with rankings in the 400s, which improved their game percentage. Do you think that this best runner-up qualification scenario across the groups is a fair situation?
CAPTAIN LLEYTON HEWITT: It is what it is, mate. We know the rules coming in, and you're only up against the teams that you get put against. We've known for a month or so now who we're playing against.
If we couldhave somehow got over the line in that first match, then we would be through to the quarterfinals. But yeah, as I said, it is what it is. You live and die by that.
Q. Lleyton, 20 years since an Aussie made the men's Australian Open final. Maybe there was some washed-up old fellow. Front row view of Alex this week. How do you rate his chances of maybe getting there?
CAPTAIN LLEYTON HEWITT: Absolutely. I'm just so happy for Alex to be back playing like he wants to play again. As he just spoke about, it's only probably his close-knit team know exactly what he's been dealing with and how frustrating that's been, and he still kept showing up and giving 100% and not making excuses.
So for me the last week or so that he's been here and training and doing the hard work, it's been great to see him being able to enjoy that, you know, and pain-free and moving the way that he wants to move out on the court, and everything else starts coming together.
Like he always says, it's about embracing this month of the year and enjoying the moments. When you do end up being a washed-up old man, these are the moments you miss, playing in front of your home crowd like this.
Alex has got as good a shot of anyone of obviously going deep at the Australian Open, but first things first. You've got to get there and take care of business and hopefully find a way to navigate your way into the second week of the slam. Then anything can happen.
Q. Alex, just quickly, mate, what's the next ten days look like for you training-wise, preparing?
ALEX de MINAUR: That's a great question. Maybe a couple of rounds of golf (laughing). Just relax a little bit. Obviously there's a longish stint until I start in Melbourne, but I'll still get there, have a very good prep.
I've got a match against Carlos on Wednesday, which will be a great little tune-up, and obviously just have the eyesight set on bringing the best version of myself for the Aussie Open.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports