Lleyton Hewitt‘s life as a pro player is over, as the former number one and his partner Sam Groth were knocked out of the Australian Open men’s doubles by Vasek Pospisil and Jack Sock.
Hewitt will now focus on his role as Davis Cup captain, and Australia’s next tie against USA in March.
Britain defeated the other three Grand Slam nations (USA, France and Australia) to reach their first final since 1978. Let’s have a look at Murray’s and co road to the final:
1st round: GREAT BRITAIN – USA 3-1, Glasgow, indoors
A rematch of last year’s first round, and an similar scenario. James Ward is the hero of the tie: he comes back from two sets down to beat US number 1 John Isner in five sets, whereas Andy Murray wins both his singles matches.
Andy Murray defeats Donald Young 6-1 6-1 4-6 6-2
James Ward defeats John Isner 6-7 5-7 6-3 7-6 15-13
Bob and Mike Bryan defeat Dominic Inglot/Jamie Murray 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-7 9-7
Andy Murray defeats John Isner 7-6 6-3 7-6
QF: GREAT BRITAIN – FRANCE: 3-1, Queen’s Club, grass
Brothers Andy and Jamie Murray propel into the semifinals for the first time since 1981. After Andy’s win over Tsonga on day 1, the Murray brothers win the crucial doubles rubber over Tsonga and Mahut. Andy then gets the job done on Sunday with a win over Simon.
Gilles Simon defeats James Ward 6-4 6-4 6-1
Andy Murray defeats Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 7-5 7-6 6-2
Andy and Jamie Murray defeat Nicolas Mahut/Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 4-6 6-3 7-6 6-1
Andy Murray defeats Gilles Simon 4-6 7-6 6-3 6-0
SF: GREAT BRITAIN – Australia 3-1, Glasgow, indoors
Another 3-point performance by Andy Murray puts Great Britain into the Davis Cup final for the first time since 1978. The Brits will next face Belgium, in a rematch of the 1904 Davis Cup final. Britain won 5-0 back then and will be the favorite again in November.
Andy Murray defeats Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-3 6-0 6-3
Bernard Tomic defeats Dan Evans 6-3 7-6 6-7 6-4
Andy and Jamie Murray defeat Sam Groth/Lleyton Hewitt 4-6 6-3 6-4 6-7 6-4
Andy Murray defeats Bernard Tomic 7-5 6-3 6-2
That’s how former British number 1 now Eurosport commentator Annabel Croft described Andy and Jamie Murray‘s thrilling victory over Sam Groth and Lleyton Hewitt:
Another sensational @DavisCup atmosphere in #Glasgow as Leon Smith lead the team into court! #BackTheBrits pic.twitter.com/iYYKjkx8b9
— British Tennis (@BritishTennis) September 19, 2015
The warm up begins @SamGrothTennis @lleytonhewitt @TKokkinakis #GoAussies #BeatTheBrits pic.twitter.com/hjHtOQnan4
— TennisAustralia (@TennisAustralia) September 19, 2015
What a memorable Davis Cup weekend, with some massive performances by Andy Murray and Lleyton Hewitt.
Great Britain – France: 3-1
Gilles Simon defeats James Ward 6-4 6-4 6-1
Andy Murray defeats Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 7-5 7-6 6-2
Andy and Jamie Murray defeat Nicolas Mahut/Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 4-6 6-3 7-6 6-1
Andy Murray defeats Gilles Simon 4-6 7-6 6-3 6-0
One more disillusion for the French team after their defeat in the final last year. Despite 3 top 20 players in their team (Simon, Tsonga and Gasquet), they could not beat Team GB at Queen’s club this weekend. Andy Murray won three matches in as many days to propel Great Britain into the Davis Cup semifinals for the first time in 34 years.
We think Leon Smith sums it up perfectly! #Legend #Respect #DavisCup pic.twitter.com/1EUvYt5kID
— British Tennis (@BritishTennis) July 19, 2015
Probably my favourite pic from the weekend. #DavisCup. #proudmumtweet pic.twitter.com/WVkazDeKa3
— judy murray (@judmoo) July 20, 2015
Australia – Kazakhstan: 3-2
Mikhail Kukushkin defeats Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-4 6-3 6-3
Aleksander Nedovyesov defeats Nick Kyrgios 7-6 6-7 7-6 6-4
Sam Groth/Lleyton Hewitt defeat Andrey Golubev/Aleksander Nedovyesov 6-4 7-6 6-2
Sam Groth defeats Mikhail Kukushkin 6-3 7-6 4-6 7-6
Lleyton Hewitt defeats Aleksander Nedovyesov 7-6 6-2 6-3
Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios were respectively 3 and 4 when Lleyton Hewitt played his first Davis Cup match back in 1999. And this weekend the soon-to-retire showed them how the job has to be done. After the surprising defeats of the young guns, Groth and Hewitt won the doubles on Saturday, and on Sunday Sam Groth levelled the tie against Mikhail Kukushkin. Hewitt then defeated Nedovyesov in straight sets to complete Australia’s first 0-2 comeback since 1939.
Sunday's #DavisCup #PhotoOfTheDay is @lleytonhewitt after he sealed Australia's 0-2 comeback & sent them to the semis pic.twitter.com/Ibx278ZYie
— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) July 19, 2015
The Emirates Arena in Glasgow is the favourite to host the much anticipated semi-final clash between Great Britain and Australia, that will meet for the 13th time, with the Aussies leading 8-4 and having won the last three.
Andy Murray and Lleyton Hewitt are ready to rumble:
See you in September @lleytonhewitt @TKokkinakis @NickKyrgios
— Andy Murray (@andy_murray) July 19, 2015
Looking forward to it champ @andy_murray #GBRvAUS https://t.co/xsO4sm0MCT
— Lleyton Hewitt (@lleytonhewitt) July 20, 2015
A routine 6-4 6-4 6-4 win for Roger Federer. The 17-time Grand Slam champion advanced to the US Open’s third round for the 15th consecutive year!
Do you think Federer will go all the way and capture a sixth US Open crown?
Photo credit: Angela N
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