By winning their singles matchups, Alex de Minaur and Jordan Thompson have steered Australia into the Davis Cup semi-finals, marking the country's first appearance in this stage since 2017. De Minaur managed to turn the match around against the Netherlands' Botic van de Zandschulp, winning 5-7, 6-3, 6-4. The 23-year-old's victory secured a 2-0 series win, setting up a future clash against either Spain or Croatia. Despite being the second most successful team in history with 28 championships, Australia's last title dates back to 2003.
The road to the semis began with Jordan Thompson, who overcame a first-set deficit to beat Tallon Griekspoor 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, giving Australia an early 1-0 advantage. In a demanding match that stretched toward the three-hour mark, Thompson utilized 16 aces to wear down his Dutch rival. This win was the catalyst that allowed Australia to bypass the Netherlands and return to the semi-finals for the first time in half a decade.
Van de Zandschulp used his powerful game to break through on his third attempt and cruise through the opening set. However, the 27-year-old Dutchman lost his grip on the match when his opponent started converting break points effectively, particularly during the first and last games of a dominant second set.
Facing a world No. 35 opponent who had already dominated the group stage—including a victory over American Taylor Fritz—De Minaur had to dig deep. Despite being outpowered at times, the Australian relied on his tenacity and mental toughness to grind out the win.
The final set was a tense affair. In the third game, De Minaur produced a stunning volley at the net to save a break point. The pressure continued in a marathon ninth game where the Dutchman forced De Minaur into a desperate dive. Ultimately, a double fault by the opponent in the closing game allowed the Australian to break through and claim victory.
Jordan Thompson's performance validated the decision made by Lleyton Hewitt. In a bold move, Hewitt added Thompson to the squad just days before the event and prioritized him for the No. 2 singles slot over Thanasi Kokkinakis.
Speaking after the match, Thompson noted that representing his country in the Davis Cup brings a unique kind of pressure that differs from the individual tour. He emphasized that the experience is special and expressed his and the team's full commitment to fighting for a place in the finals.