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Aussies take stranglehold on Davis Cup tie

3 minute read

Australia have taken a 2-0 lead against Bosnia and Herzegovina in their Davis Cup tie, winning both singles matches in Adelaide.

LLEYTON HEWITT of The World team serves during the BNP Paribas Showdown at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
LLEYTON HEWITT of The World team serves during the BNP Paribas Showdown at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Picture: Elsa/Getty Images

Triumphant John Millman and Alex de Minaur have delivered Australia a 2-0 stranglehold lead in their Davis Cup tie against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Millman defeated top-ranked Bosnian Damir Dzumhur in straight sets, 6-3 6-2, in Friday's opening singles match at Adelaide's Memorial Drive.

De Minaur followed with a 6-3 7-6 (7-0) victory against Mirza Basic ahead of a doubles rubber and reverse singles on Saturday.

Australia are in the box seat to win the tie and secure a spot in the finals of the revamped cup.

The winners of 12 cup ties around the world this weekend join six automatic qualifiers for the finals to be played over one November week in Madrid.

Millman gifted Australia the perfect start with a 71-minute belting of world No.52 Dzumhur.

De Minaur eclipsed Basic in 87 minutes to put the host nation on a roll.

"Momentum in Davis Cup ties is really quite big," Millman told reporters.

The world No.36 said the emphatic performances were evidence of team captain Lleyton Hewitt's demands for the Davis Cup to return to prominence in Australia.

"It's no secret that Lletyon wants to create a real culture where Davis Cup is one of the benchmarks of the year," Millman said.

"The opportunity to represent your country, as it was back in the old days, is something that we don't take for granted.

"I'm all for that. It always should be like that."

The Australian team, without controversial duo Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic, have set a simple goal.

"It's not rocket science. We just want to be part of a team that Australians can be proud of and get behind and support," Millman said.

"That is our objective.

"You're not going to win every match. I know that - it's sport.

"But you go about it the right way and you set the tone and you set a benchmark in culture and in environment that Australians can be proud of.

"That is what Australian culture is about - going out there and giving it a crack. And that is what this team is going to do and is doing."

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