"I just wasn’t good enough tonight" - Australia rue missed opportunity as they come close to miraculous comeback in Davis Cup tie

Australia's Alexsandar Vukic was one set away from completing an unimaginable comeback in their Davis Cup tie against Belgium, but could not quite get over the line as they failed to progress. The two countries were clashing to confirm their place in the Davis Cup finals in Bologna later this year.

The Aussies found themselves 2-0 down after the first singles ties. World number eight Alex de Minaur was pegged back by world number 91 Raphael Collignon, who had suffered cramp before coming back into the match. After that, Jordan Thompson was defeated in straight sets by Belgian number one Zizou Bergs to put them on the back foot.

He would return in the doubles partnered with debutant Rinky Hijikata, where they would recover from an opening tiebreak setback to win the match and keep their dreams alive. To complete the comeback, they would have to be flawless, winning each of their final two singles matches.

It looked like an uphill battle, but De Minaur put them on the right path, as he stormed to victory over Bergs in straight sets, which left all the pressure and hope on Vukic in his final match against Collingon. If he were to win, it would be the fourth Australian team to come back from a 2-0 deficit.

He was on the right end of a tight tiebreak to open proceedings, but the Belgian number three proved to be too strong, getting a double break in both the second and third sets to romp to victory and confirm his country's place in the finals for the first time since 2015.

For the first time since 2021, the finals will not have Australia in it. The 2023 finalists pushed hard but could not get over the line despite the quality they have in their ranks. The team captain, Lleyton Hewitt, was proud with the effort put in, and believes they should leave with their heads held high.

“I’m just proud of the whole team and the effort they put in,” Hewitt said. “It’s always a long season, and to come straight back after the US Open, and get straight into training in the team camp and do everything that the coaching staff have asked of them. Yesterday [Saturday] didn’t go our way, but they still held their heads high and came out and had a real crack today, and then we nearly were able to pull it off.”

It was not to be for Vukic, who was one set away from completing the comeback and sealing his country's place in the final, but admitted he was not good enough on the night to clinch victory.

“It was a tough match, tough to get a loss for the team and for the country," Vukic said. "But credit to him, he played a great match. I’m kind of lost for words in terms of just leaving it all out there, giving it my best. I just wasn’t good enough tonight.”

Australia are the second most successful team in Davis Cup history, with their 28 titles the second most after the 32 titles the USA have claimed. Between 1950-1967, Australia won 15 out of the 18 available titles, boasting players such as Rod Laver, Roy Emerson, and Neale Fraser, among others. However, their last triumph came back in 2003 in a 3-1 victory over Spain.

Their failure to qualify for the finals is a big blow for such an established nation. They will now be looking towards next years campaign. They will need two qualifying wins in 2026 to return them to the finals.