Hewitt: Loss Leaves Us Raw

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A stirring Belgian comeback denied Australia its first trip to the Davis Cup final in 14 years.

Down 1-2 on the final day of play, David Goffin defeated Nick Kyrgios and Steve Darcis swept Jordan Thompson rallying host Belgium to a 3-2 victory and its second Davis Cup final in the last three years.

Watch: Darcis, Goffin Lift Belgium into Davis Cup Final

Australian captain Lleyton Hewitt, who played a key role on the nation’s 2003 Davis Cup championship squad, said his team gave total effort but that doesn’t diminish the sting of deep disappointment of defeat.

"You come here to get the result," Hewitt said. "It's a bit hard to talk about it right now. It's obviously pretty raw at the moment. I think disappointment is probably the one word.

"I'm extremely proud of the boys. Everyone gave 100 percent. We left it all out there. But that doesn't make it hurt any less. It's disappointing, but I've told the boys if it hurts it means something.

"These boys take a lot of pride playing for their country and wearing the green and gold and will bounce back."

Hewitt opted to bench Thanasi Kokkinakis and start John Millman in Friday’s opening singles. Millman bowed to Goffin, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-3, 7-5, in a three-hour, 32-minute battle.

In the decisive fifth match, Hewitt started Thompson instead of Millman. Darcis saved two set points in the second set of a 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 triumph to clinch Belgium’s trip to the final.

It was the fifth time Darcis has clinched a Davis Cup victory.

Former world No. 1 Hewitt said the team had planned to start Thompson, who partnered John Peers in the doubles sweep on Saturday, in the final singles match.

"It was always going to be the case for a long time, so nothing in our plans changed," Hewitt said of the decision to start Thompson. "A lot of these boys haven't played in Davis Cup ties away from home.

"It is different. It's tough. Especially in semis and finals. They'll be better for the run."

Photo credit: IMAGELLAN/Davis Cup Facebook

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