Alex de Minaur took his frustrations out in a Davis Cup thumping to put Australia up 1-0 in their must-win Brisbane tie against Poland, before Kamil Majchrzak edged James Duckworth in a tense two-hour affair. The world No 9, keen to rediscover his mojo after a disappointing second-round US Open loss, lit up Pat Rafter Arena on Saturday afternoon with a dominant 6-3 6-0 defeat of world No 231 Maks Kasnikowski. De Minaur’s performance was a statement of intent, as he looks to bounce back from a challenging season.
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But the tie is all square after Brisbane home town hero Duckworth was defeated by Majchrzak 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the second singles match, before Sunday’s doubles and reverse singles. Duckworth started strongly, taking the first set, but Majchrzak fought back to clinch a crucial point for Poland. The result leaves the tie finely poised, with Australia needing a strong showing in the doubles and reverse singles to keep their Davis Cup hopes alive.
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While he remains an admirable ninth in the ATP world rankings, 2026 has by almost every measure been one of de Minaur’s toughest in recent memory (albeit with a wedding to British player Katie Boulter mixed in) as evidenced by him sitting 13th in the race for the year-end ATP finals. He only reached the quarters of one major, losing to eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz at the Australian Open, before falling to players ranked lower than him in Paris, London and New York. His victory over Kasnikowski, however, showed glimpses of the form that has made him a top-10 staple.
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The tie continues on Sunday with the doubles rubber followed by the reverse singles, where de Minaur is expected to face Majchrzak in a potential decider. Australia will be hoping their No 1 can carry his momentum and inspire the team to a vital win. With the home crowd behind them, the Aussies remain in contention, but Poland has proven a resilient opponent. All eyes will be on Pat Rafter Arena as
Shimanta Das 
