Australian captain Lleyton Hewitt suspects doubles will prove decisive as the inaugural ATP Cup enters the knockout stages in Sydney.
Hewitt’s side will take on Great Britain in Thursday’s opening quarter-final having not dropped a match during the pool stages.
Led by world No.1 Rafael Nadal, Davis Cup champions Spain also advanced to the last eight with three consecutive 3-0 triumphs during the pool stages.
Seven-times Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic and 2019 US Open finalist Daniil Medvedev helped Serbia and Russia to also progress to the quarter-finals undefeated.
But Hewitt wouldn’t swap his world-class Australian No.2 Nick Kyrgios or his unbeaten doubles pairing of John Peers and Chris Guccione for anyone and hopes they prove the difference during the “nerve-wracking” climax to the $22 million event.
“Obviously every No.1 is unbelievably strong in the whole competition,” Hewitt said.
“No.2’s probably vary a little bit from team to team.I’m pretty happy with Nick obviously as No.2
“And when John (Millman) has had to step up, I have full confidence in him as well.
“There’s going to be a lot of ties, though, that could potentially come down to the doubles from the quarter-finals onwards as well.
“It’s interesting. The doubles in this format, the sudden-death deuce, and also the super-tiebreak, there’s a lot of clutch points, which is really exciting for the crowd and TV and the viewers.
“It’s pretty nerve-racking, actually, sitting on the sideline and not being able to actually be out there and in control of it.”
With Australian No.1 Alex de Minaur returning after being rested from the team’s final pool match against Greece, Kyrgios will face British No.2 Cameron Norris in Thursday’s second singles match.
De Minaur will play British No.1 Dan Evans in the opener.
Peers and Guccione will take on Jamie Murray and Joe Salisbury in the doubles, with victory over the Brits setting up a likely semi-final against Spain on Saturday night.
“Yeah, at the moment, just focusing on Great Britain,” Hewitt said after arriving in Sydney from Australia’s round-robin play in Brisbane.
“That’s probably the toughest thing for us, coming from a different city. Their being here and acclimatised, they know how centre court is playing.
“So it’s going to be two tough (singles) matches for us.”
Russia will face Argentina in Thursday’s second quarter-final after the South Americans whitewashed Croatia 3-0 to snatch top spot in Group E.
Belgium finished as the best pool runners-up to book a quarter-final date on Friday with Rafael Nadal’s Davis Cup champions and pre-tournament favourites Spain.
Novak Djokovic’s unbeaten Serbians will meet Canada, the second best pool runners-up, in Friday night’s last quarter-final.
ATP CUP QUARTER-FINAL LINE-UP AT SYDNEY OLYMPIC PARK TENNIS CENTRE:
THURSDAY
10am: Australia v Great Britain
5.30pm: Russia v Argentina
FRIDAY
10am: Serbia v Canada
5.30pm: Belgium v Spain