A tough loss to Spain means Australia will face a challenging task in the quarter-finals to end a 21-year title drought in the team competition.
Australia could not capitalise on Carlos Alcaraz’s absence or Alexei Popyrin’s singles victory, suffering a costly Davis Cup defeat to Spain that will make their title bid all the more difficult.
Martinez backed up in the doubles with world No.1 Marcel Granollers, and they overcame a brilliant start from Purcell and Ebden to hand the Australian pair just their second loss in 10 Davis Cup matches, prevailing 5-7, 6-4, 6-4. That chance came and went in the second game, only for Purcell to fall in a 0-40 hole at 2-3 – and they relented on the third of those break points when Granollers nailed an overhead winner. The Australians could never catch up from there, with Australia’s support crew becoming increasingly glum on the sidelines.
Popyrin had a nervous start to the week filling de Minaur’s void as the No.1 singles player, suffering a straight-sets loss to French star Ugo Humbert, but he was a different player against Martinez.
However, Carreno Busta staged a brilliant comeback, with the contest turning on consecutive epic rallies in that Thompson service game – both of which the Spaniard won, including a bold inside-out backhand winner that landed deep in the corner.Thompson’s forehand let him down when he needed it most, as Carreno Busta broke back and then took over from the baseline, just like in the second set, to post a seesawing three-set triumph.
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