sport news Lleyton Hewitt slams Davis Cup organisers as Australia lose final to Canada ... trends now
Australian captain Lleyton Hewitt has lashed out at Davis Cup organisers for not allowing his team to play the final on home soil as Canada took the title with a comprehensive win on Sunday in Spain.
First, Thanasi Kokkinakis was put to the sword by Denis Shapovalov before Alex de Minaur got shredded 6-3 6-4 by Felix Auger-Aliassime as Canada lifted the men's World Cup of tennis for the first time in the competition's 122-year annals.
But Australia's frustrating 19-year wait for a 29th title goes on after their courageous, unexpected run to the final in Malaga ended with the searing quality of two top-20 stars proving too much for Lleyton Hewitt's battlers.
'I'm gutted for the boys. They've put in the commitment and the work and done absolutely everything right all year,' said Hewitt.
'They left it all out there once again; we came up slightly short, but I couldn't be prouder - and all of Australia should be proud.'
Earlier, Hewitt lashed out at organisers for putting Australia at a disadvantage before the final even started.
Changes to the competition's format have done away with five-set matches and switched to neutral venues for finals.
Australian captain Lleyton Hewitt (pictured with Alex de Minaur during the final) said the whole country should be proud of the team after they made the nation's first Davis Cup decider for 19 years
Thanasi Kokkinakis (pictured) branded himself 'pretty much useless' after falling to Denis Shapovalov in straight sets, 6-2 6-4
'I'd love it [the final] to be in Australia ... I'm disappointed the boyd don't get to play in front of 15,000 at Rod Laver Arena,' he said.
'When it [the Cup] changed to this format, it was only ever going to be twice a year, so we have added on another week. It's been a bloody long year for everyone, and we are a long way from home, too. Don't forget that.
'I don't like the chances of this final series ever being played in Australia.'
It was such a comprehensive win - the most one-sided of the entire finals week - that there was no need for a deciding doubles, which would have featured the Aussie pairing of Jordan Thompson and Max Purcell against Auger-Aliassime and
