Davis Cup: Alex De Minaur Powers Australia into a second consecutive final

Alex de Minaur guided Australia into their second straight Davis Cup final after dominating the serve of Finland’s Emil Ruusuvuori in Malaga Friday.

The World No. 12 got eighteen break point opportunities, five of which he converted, and 48 percent of his first-serve return points were won in his 6-4, 6-3 victory to record four wins on the bounce in Davis Cup Finals singles.

Alex De Minaur and Alexei Popyrin didn’t drop a set in the semi-final win over Finland, and team capatain Lleyton Hewitt.

Alex De Minaur victory followed teammate Alexei Popyrin’s 7-6(5), 6-2 win over Otto Virtanen. “Probably the biggest win of my career,” Popyrin told DavisCup.com. “To win a match that means so much for us is an honour and something that I will never forget.”

After Alexei Popyrin and Alex De Minaur wins against Finland, Australia reached their 49th Davis Cup final.

In Sunday’s final Australia will play the winner of Serbia and Italy, a tie that will feature a rematch of the Nitto ATP Finals title match between Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner.

This week, Jiri Lehecka defeated de Minaur 6-4, 5-3, and Tomas Machac defeated Jordan Thompson 6-4, 7-5, leaving Australia badly behind the Czech Republic. However, the 24-year-old turned the tide of the match by winning 10 straight points after falling behind in his 3-5 service game. Following de Minaur’s dramatic victory, Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell won the decisive doubles rubber.

Australia’s next goal is to make up for losing to Canada in the previous year’s championship game. Australia ranks second only to the United States (32-29) in the Davis Cup finals with a record of 28-20.

However, the Cup hasn’t been won by the conventional superpower in 20 years. It beat Spain at Melbourne Park in 2003, with current captain Lleyton Hewitt leading the way in doubles with Wayne Arthurs and Todd Woodbridge, and Mark Philippoussis.