By David Wiseman
September 23rd 2008 @ 8:38am
Loading ...Australia diving in Davis Cup
Lost in the wash-up of the football finals was Australia’s exclusion from the Davis Cup World Group for a second great year. To put this in context, this is like Manchester United being relegated to the Championship.
Even in those lean years in the 1980s, Australia was never relegated. Things have deteriorated really quickly. Two years ago the green and gold were playing off for a spot in the final, but two tough draws, first against Serbia and now against Chile haven’t done them any favours.
To be competitive in the Davis Cup you need at least one player in the top 60 and Australia doesn’t have that. Gone are the days when Lleyton and the Woodies could be counted on for three points.
What now? The cupboard looks pretty bare. Maybe Bernard Tomic could prove to be the answer because Chris Guccione is too inconsistent and has about as much ticker as Wayne Arthurs.
Hopefully when the book about Lleyton Hewitt is written his Herculean Davis Cup efforts are appreciated; despite Australia winning the Cup 15 times between 1950 and 1967 Hewitt should still go down as Australia’s greatest-ever Davis Cup performer.
His 32-8 record in singles is nothing short of phenomenal. Coming to mind are his defeated of Gustavo Kuerten on Kuerten’s hometown Florianopolis clay in straight sets, coming back from two sets down to defeat Roger Federer and defeating Juan Carlos Ferrero in the opening tie of the 2003 final.
So now it’s out of sight out of mind for another year as Australia has to wait 12 months for another crack at getting back into the World Group. From there a good draw is needed to stay in the World Group. Harry Hopman must be turning in his grave.
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