Jordan Thompson has vindicated a tough call from his Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt as he gave Aus...View MoreJordan Thompson has vindicated a tough call from his Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt as he gave Australia the lead in their quarter-final clash with the
Netherlands on the opening day of finals week in Malaga.
Hewitt decided to plump for Thompson, a late addition to the team this week, rather than Thanasi Kokkinakis for the opening rubber against Tallon Griekspoor - and it paid off with the battling 'Tommo' delivering a courageous come-from-behind 4-6 7-5 6-3 victory on Tuesday.
It gave the Aussies, looking to win the World Cup of men's team tennis for the first time since 2003, a crucial 1-0 lead at the Palacio de deportes Martin Carpena.
Their No.1 Alex de Minaur had the chance to seal a semi-final place by beating the top Dutch player Botic van de Zandschulp in the second singles.
It was a magnificent win for Thompson, who was evidently considered by Hewitt to be a better bet first up than Kokkinakis, who's only had 10 singles matches since the start of July and is ranked 11 places below Sydney's world No.84.
Yet it was Griekspoor who took the game to the Aussie, his powerful forehand giving him early control but Thompson had more joy, working more to the 26-year-old's backhand in the second stanza.
Still, as Griekspoor began to visibly tire in an epic 80-minute set that featured one game that lasted nearly quarter-of-an-hour, there was a crisis point for Thompson when the Dutchman earned a break point at 5-5 which may have felt like a match point if he'd converted.
But when Thompson held, then earned his own break with a flashing backhand pass, he looked in control - and a break in the fifth game of the decider proved crucial as he went on to win after nearly three hours of a draining duel.
The winners of the tie will face either six-times champions and hosts Spain or Croatia for a place in Sunday's final.
In the other quarter-finals, Italy take on the United States while Germany face Canada.
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Hewitt decided to plump for Thompson, a late addition to the team this week, rather than Thanasi Kokkinakis for the opening rubber against Tallon Griekspoor - and it paid off with the battling 'Tommo' delivering a courageous come-from-behind 4-6 7-5 6-3 victory on Tuesday.
It gave the Aussies, looking to win the World Cup of men's team tennis for the first time since 2003, a crucial 1-0 lead at the Palacio de deportes Martin Carpena.
Their No.1 Alex de Minaur had the chance to seal a semi-final place by beating the top Dutch player Botic van de Zandschulp in the second singles.
It was a magnificent win for Thompson, who was evidently considered by Hewitt to be a better bet first up than Kokkinakis, who's only had 10 singles matches since the start of July and is ranked 11 places below Sydney's world No.84.
Yet it was Griekspoor who took the game to the Aussie, his powerful forehand giving him early control but Thompson had more joy, working more to the 26-year-old's backhand in the second stanza.
Still, as Griekspoor began to visibly tire in an epic 80-minute set that featured one game that lasted nearly quarter-of-an-hour, there was a crisis point for Thompson when the Dutchman earned a break point at 5-5 which may have felt like a match point if he'd converted.
But when Thompson held, then earned his own break with a flashing backhand pass, he looked in control - and a break in the fifth game of the decider proved crucial as he went on to win after nearly three hours of a draining duel.
The winners of the tie will face either six-times champions and hosts Spain or Croatia for a place in Sunday's final.
In the other quarter-finals, Italy take on the United States while Germany face Canada.My site ... aanrecht afvoer onderdelen
