Australia secured a place in the Davis Cup's penultimate round next year by defeating Poland 3-1 in Brisbane. Alex de Minaur played a key role in the victory, winning his singles match against Kamil Majchrzak 6-3, 6-3 at Pat Rafter Arena.
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De Minaur, currently ranked No. 9 in the world, showcased impressive form following a disappointing second-round exit at the US Open earlier this month. He had previously dominated Maks Kasnikowski in a match that lasted just 57 minutes.
In addition to De Minaur's singles success, the Australian duo of Max Purcell and Rinky Hijikata contributed with a crucial win in doubles. They defeated Jan Zielinski and Karol Drzewiecki in straight sets, 7-6 (7-3), 6-3. This victory was pivotal, particularly after the mixed results from the singles matches on Saturday, where De Minaur won and James Duckworth lost.
Purcell, returning from an 18-month anti-doping ban, turned the doubles match around after a tense first set. He began the tiebreak with a powerful backhand return and then served a couple of aces, establishing a 3-0 lead. A series of effective volleys helped him secure the set for Australia.
Hijikata followed with solid play, ultimately breaking serve in the match's only service break. Their performance energized the sold-out arena, and the match concluded in 77 minutes.
This victory follows a shocking loss to Ecuador earlier in the year, which had put Australia in a must-win position against Poland. To advance to the finals in Italy in November 2027, Australia will need to win their qualifying round next year against an opponent yet to be determined.