Kokkinakis inspires Australia to Davis Cup victory over USA

Australia overcame the United States 2-1 in a thrilling Davis Cup quarter-final clash in Malaga on Friday morning (AEDT), booking their place in the last four.

Thanasi Kokkinakis stole the show in the singles, surviving a 30-point tiebreaker — one of the longest in Davis Cup history — to beat Ben Shelton 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (14).

Kokkinakis, ranked world No.77, saved four match points before converting on his seventh to clinch the victory.

“I don’t know if I’ve been that pumped up in my life,” he said afterwards, visibly emotional.

“I wanted that one bad. I wanted to help my team.”

The United States bounced back swiftly, with world No.4 Taylor Fritz defeating Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-4 in the second singles rubber.

Fritz, coming off an impressive season, proved too powerful for de Minaur, securing the win in just 71 minutes.

“I’m maybe a little bit more nervy just because it’s Davis Cup, it’s a team event, but I feel like I handled it well,” Fritz said.

With the tie locked at 1-1, the deciding doubles match fell to Australia’s Matthew Ebden and Jordan Thompson, who faced the American pairing of Shelton and Tommy Paul.

Ebden and Thompson’s experience shone through as they delivered a composed 6-4, 6-4 victory, with the Aussie duo breaking serve at crucial moments.

“We had to rush out here and get the job done for our country and we love nothing more than those pressure moments,” Ebden said.

“It’s so fun to play together and get the win for our country.”

The result keeps alive Australia’s hopes of claiming a 29th Davis Cup title, while the USA — whose last win came in 2007 — will have to wait at least another year to end their drought.

Next up for Lleyton Hewitt’s crew is a semi-final clash with defending champions Italy, who beat Argentina on Friday.

Tennis betting sites have Jannik Sinner and co. pegged as $1.57 favourites to defend their title, with the Aussies next in the outright market at $5.

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