Australia through to Davis Cup playoff
12 April, 2008
A straight-sets victory in the doubles rubber has given Australia an unbeatable lead over Thailand in the Davis Cup playoff in Townsville.
Lleyton Hewitt and Paul Hanley outclassed Weerapat Doakmaiklee and Kirati Siributwong 6-3 6-1 6-0 to put Australia 3-0 up in the Asia-Oceania group second-round tie.
Australia can now look forward to another playoff in September for the right to re-enter the competition's elite 16-nation World Group in 2009.
The draw for the playoffs will be conducted early next week and the most desirable result for Australia would be a home tie against either Peru, the Netherlands, Israel, Brazil, Chile or Colombia.
The worst-case scenario would be a home fixture against Roger Federer's Switzerland, although an away tie against India or Andy Murray's Great Britain aren't exactly appealing either.
It could have been far worse, though.
Currently ranked 10th in the world, Australia are guaranteed a seeding - possibly No.1 - for the playoffs, meaning John Fitzgerald's team will at least be spared another showdown with Serbia.
It was the Novak Djokovic-inspired Serbs who sent 28-times champions Australia packing from the World Group for only the second time with a 4-1 humbling in Belgrade last September.
Australia entered day two against Thailand with a 2-0 advantage following singles wins on Friday for Hewitt over Sirubtwong, and Chris Guccione over Danai Udomchoke, and were keen to make swift work of the doubles.
And they were never troubled, dropping just four games, with Hewitt saying it was a relief to be a step closer to a return to the World Group.
"These are never easy matches. Obviously we were the favourites coming into the tie but you still have to go out there and get the job done," Hewitt said.
"And now it's a matter of winning the World Group playoff in September."
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