The captain of the Australian team Lleyton Hewitt in these Davis Cup finals of the 2021 season went to a press conference speaking on the subject of Abu Dhabi after the defeat they suffered against Croatia 3-0 that leaves them with few options of classification.
Hewitt’s take on Abu Dhabi
The one who was No.1 in the world was asked for his opinion regarding the transfer of the Davis Cup Finals to Abu Dhabi offering a clear argument. “I had heard rumors, I do not know if it is still confirmed but it seems ridiculous to me. I’ve been pretty clear for the last three or four years on this issue of the format that they’ve become. For example, on this day we have competed in a great stadium but without that audience that proclaimed the essence of this competition, it is not a Davis Cup“Explained the Australian.
“Many of the best memories of my career are in the Davis Cup. It didn’t matter if we played in Australia or Hawaii, since the atmosphere was special. Many times when you played away from home the challenge was greater since with everyone against you, you had to unite more as a team“He added. “It disappoints me since players like De Miñaur would give everything to play defending the colors of their country on hostile terrain. However, the Davis Cup was that competition that was competed in five sets just like the Grand Slam. That was the greatness of that competition. Now that they have removed it, they did the same with playing at home and away. So if they take them to the Middle East for five years, I think they are killing this tournament.“.
He was also asked about the issue of that Davis Cup with the calendar problem. “A player like Roger Federer did everything possible to have his name in this competition. Djokovic has always defended Serbia, Murray gave it his all for Great Britain. In the case of young people, Zverev was competing for Germany. It was that special essence that this competition hadHewitt stated. “We now have the ATP Cup in Australia and in the last two years I have been much more supportive of it as it has attracted the best players“. With which Hewitt confirms that this Davis Cup system does not like anything and that he is dissatisfied with the move to Abu Dhabi.
The lack of Nick Kyrgios
“It is clear that at his best, Nick is a fundamental weapon for this team. In both singles and doubles, everything he can give us is great. However, it was a difficult year for him and he was not on the list to be able to be here. Mentally he has been quite low, then he also had problems with his knee and the quarantine he had to do in Australia after the Laver Cup“.
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