Australia's Lleyton Hewitt celebrates winning a point during his Davis Cup world group playoff singles match against China's Zhang Ze in Beijing on Sunday. Hewitt won 6-2, 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (2) to seal victory for Australia. Jason Lee / Reuters

Veteran Hewitt guides Australians into World Group playoffs after tough matches

BEIJING - Australia's rookie Davis Cup captain, Patrick Rafter, was full of praise for the young China squad after his side sealed a 3-1 victory over the host on Sunday at the Beijiing International Tennis Center.

Veteran Lleyton Hewitt nailed Australia's berth in September's World Group playoffs, but only after facing a strong comeback from impressive 21-year-old Zhang Ze, who was blasted off the sluggish court in the first two sets before rallying for a more than respectable 6-2, 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (2) score line against the former world No 1.

"That was very tense - the whole tie," Rafter said after the Asia/Oceania Zone Group 1 second-round encounter; his debut as a captain. "We were very, very impressed with the Chinese team. I thought they were absolutely brilliant in the way they fought hard at the end of the day they were impressive and all of China should be very proud of them.

"Some of our (Australian) kids could learn a lot from the dedication they show. Sometimes in Australia we have it very easy because it's a great and beautiful place to live and sometimes you wonder why you want to step outside your comfort zone you need a certain toughness.

If any of our kids saw what was happening out on that court today they would see what it takes to be a player and what it is to represent your country. Today, on both sides, you saw what toughness was all about."

Hewitt, 30, not originally scheduled to play singles in the tie, was called on by Rafter after Australia took a not-too-convincing 2-1 lead into the final day's reverse singles, and he didn't let his skipper down.

"I got subbed in to play today and felt pretty confident going into the match. In the first two sets I played extremely good tennis. I went out with a very good game plan and executed it to perfection," he said.

"I had a slight loss of concentration at the start of the third set, but to Zhang's credit he changed his game plan and played very well the rest of the way and I was just happy to get out of it in the fourth set."

Australia, a former Cup powerhouse, now turns its attention to getting back into the elite World Group.

"We will know on Tuesday who we will play and then we will make our call on what surface, place and time," Rafter said.

"That will depend if we are at home or away and obviously if we are away there's nothing we can do about it, but if we are in Australia we can pick the surface and conditions a lot better."

China Daily

(China Daily 07/11/2011 page24)