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Alex de Minaur has taken his frustrations out in a Davis Cup thumping to put Australia up 1-0 in their must-win Brisbane tie against Poland, before Kamil Majchrzak edged James Duckworth in a tense two-hour affair.
The world No 9, keen to rediscover his mojo after a disappointing second-round US Open loss, lit up Pat Rafter Arena on Saturday afternoon with a dominant 6-3 6-0 defeat of world No 231 Maks Kasnikowski.
But the tie is all square after Brisbane home town hero Duckworth was defeated by Majchrzak 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the second singles match, before Sunday’s doubles and reverse singles.
The first singles match lasted 56 minutes and de Minaur lost just six points in the second set as the Australian No 1 found range on his serve, angles from the baseline and got to the net to finish points with authority.
De Minaur roared after breaking for the first time in the fourth game and then, after a tight call went against him with his tail up at 4-1, steadied with back-to-back aces.
Kasnikowski saved two set points on serve and forced de Minaur to serve out the first set, which he did with ease before breaking instantly to set the tone for a one-sided second set.
“That’s what these ties are all about; get fired up, get the crowd involved and there’s no better feeling,” de Minaur said of his theatrics.
“We play outside of Australia for 10 months a year … so being here, in front of a packed crowd, great atmosphere it’s one I’ve missed.
“The serve felt great … I had some nice words to it and it’s coming out to play.”
Kasnikowski admits he was blown away in his first meeting with a member of the world’s top 10.
“It was a unique experience. A really, really tough challenge and happy I put up a little bit of a fight in the first set,” he said.
“In the second, Alex increased the level a lot and it was too much for me today.
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“He started playing way faster and was making no mistakes.”
The hosts looked set to surge ahead 2-0 when Duckworth peeled off five straight games to take the first set and then break early in the third.
But Majchrzak broke straight back, then saved two more break points at 3-3, before a string of unforced errors cost Duckworth in his next service game.
Sunday’s doubles will be pivotal before de Minaur and Majchrzak meet, just months after the Polish talent beat the Australian in a tight, three-set final in ‘s-Hertogenbosch.
If the tie is split 2-2, Duckworth and Kasnikowski are slated to play the decisive fifth rubber, with the winners progressing to next year’s qualifying round and the losers eliminated altogether from the 2027 Cup race that culminates in Italy next November.
Australia were upset in Ecuador earlier this year and must win this clash to progress to next year’s qualifying round, where they can then book a place in the eight-team finals in Italy in November.
