Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Unsung James Duckworth wants a shot at Davis Cup redemption as Lleyton Hewitt’s Australians look to bounce back from arguably the nation’s lowest-ever moment in the prestigious teams’ event.
Without inspirational spearhead Alex de Minaur, Australia slumped to an ignimonous 3-1 defeat to Ecuador in February to lose their automatic World Group status.
Duckworth stepped up for a belated Cup singles debut only to fall to the 257th-ranked Andres Andrade in three sets after Rinky Hijikata suffered a similar fate against world No.201 Alvaro Guillen Meza.
The tie was over when Hijikata and Jordan Thompson also lost the doubles, consigning Australia to a World Group I playoff with Poland in Brisbane this month.
But playing at home on a Brisbane hard court is a far cry from the challenge of taking on South Americans on clay at altitude, leaving Duckworth hoping he once again gets the nod from Hewitt.
He certainly deserves another chance.
At 34, Duckworth is playing some of the best tennis of his career.
He made the final in Winston-Salem last week, having to quit against Arthur Fery with a groin strain, before gallantly reaching the US Open second round in New York.
On ranking, Duckworth is the Australian No.2 behind de Minaur so must be prominent in Hewitt’s selection thoughts.
“I don’t think the team’s been finalised yet, but I’d say I’m a good chance,” Duckworth told AAP.
“It would be awesome, especially in Brisbane as well where I’ve been living for the last 12 years, where I practice, so if I get the chance to represent Australia, I’d really cherish it.”
Duckworth will never win a grand slam singles crown but the veteran would love to help Australia break its now 23-year Davis Cup title drought.
Hewitt’s charges have been awfully close in recent times, making successive finals in 2022 and 2023 and the semi-finals the following year.
If they can get past Poland to make next year’s qualifying ties in April, Australia will again be a step away from reaching the eight-team 2027 finals.
Duckworth insists getting his hands on the trophy remains possible.
“I mean, that’s the goal,” he said.
“We’ve got a strong team, obviously with Demon at No.1 and on our day we can really trouble the best countries.
“Yeah, definitely a goal of mine.”
After hitting a career-high No.46 in 2022, Duckworth will climb to around 66th after the Open and hasn’t given up on cracking the world’s top 50 again.
“I’m still very passionate, still very hungry to improve each day,” he said.
“I feel like I’ve improved a lot in the last 12 months. I’m really starting to understand my game style.
“I was probably playing the wrong way the last couple of years, but in the last sort of 12 months I’ve really sort of understood that I’m enjoying the tennis and, look, there’s no end date.
“Whilst I’m feeling good and playing well and my body’s good, I’ll continue to play.”
