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Ahead of leading Australia into battle against Belgium in the Davis Cup this weekend in Sydney, world No.8 Alex de Minaur is taking inspiration from Wallabies captain Harry Wilson.
De Minaur watched the Wallabies’ thrilling victory against Argentina, and Wilson’s decision to go for glory instead of settling for a draw resonated with Australia’s highest-ranked player and his Davis Cup coach, Lleyton Hewitt.
“That was amazing, to have the guts to go for it in that position, look, fortune favours the brave, and it just shows the type of attitude that we want all Australian athletes to have and just be fearless, go after it and have that never say die attitude like Lleyton [Hewitt] showed us all,” de Minaur said.
“So it was amazing to see, super exciting, and yeah, it was kind of one of those goosebumps moments.”
De Minaur has built a strong relationship with Wilson after inviting the Wallabies captain and teammate Max Jorgensen to his player’s box for his third-round win over Francisco Cerundolo at the Australian Open in January.
On Wednesday, Wilson and Corey Toole enjoyed a hit with Hewitt and de Minaur at Sydney Olympic Park. De Minaur also took the opportunity tochat about what it means to represent Australia.
Wallabies Harry Wilson, and Corey Toole pose with Alex de Minaur and Lleyton Hewitt at Sydney Olympic Park Tennis CentreCredit: Getty Images
“You know, the passion and pride that they show every time they step out on the field, and that’s what we try to replicate as Australian athletes, and it’s just to represent your country with pride and passion and always leave it all out there, so that’s the beauty of it,” de Minaur said.
Hewitt has also followed the Wallabies closely and was in the crowd at the MCG to see the dramatic second Test defeat against the British and Irish Lions and was not happy with the decision not to penalise breakaway Jac Morgan for his hit on Carlo Tizzano in the dying seconds of the game. Lions fullback Hugo Keenan then scored the winning try.
“I went and watched these boys actually in Melbourne [in the second Lions’ Test], they lost a tight one, it was a shit decision,” Hewitt said smiling.
“But just to see the passion and the pride that comes with wearing the green and gold, and that’s something that we try and instil in our boys, and you see them every time they go out there, leaving it out on the field.”
Alex de Minaur was inspired by Harry Wilson’s late brave decision to go for glory against Argentina in Townsville last SaturdayCredit: Getty Images
Wilson was pleased to hear how his decision to go for victory against Argentina had inspired de Minaur, but says his team equally takes inspiration from the example of Australia’s Davis Cup team.
“I think most Australians probably would have done the same thing [turning down the draw to win the game],” Wilson said.
“I think that’s who we are as people, we always want to back ourselves, and obviously, that one worked there.
“It’s probably no different to the way they [the Davis Cup team] fight back on the tennis court late in matches and try and get the win, we love seeing it.”
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