Alex de Minaur in brutal new development amid huge Rafa Nadal twist for Davis Cup finals

Alex de Minaur's race against time to be fit for Australia's quest to end a 21-year Davis Cup drought appears to have fallen short as Lleyton Hewitt named his squad for November's knock-out finals without the national No.1. With eight weeks to go until the 'final 8' it is not inconceivable that de Minaur could still take part as changes to the squad are permitted for several more weeks, but being left out of the team announced this week suggests he won't.

Alexei Popyrin will lead the same five-man squad who battled their way through the group stage earlier this month but Australia face a daunting quarter-final against the United States. The US team contains the likes of big guns Tommy Paul, Frances Tiafoe and US Open finalist Taylor Fritz. If Hewitt's men can get past the Americans then a potential semi-final clash against the even more formidable defending champions Italy led by Jannik Sinner awaits - provided they get past Argentina.

Jordan Thompson, Thanasi Kokkinakis, Max Purcell and Matthew Ebden make up Australia's quintet for the Malaga showdown, with the team desperate to end a drought that now dates back more than two decades to 2003 - a time when current team captain Hewitt was part of the winning Australian contingent. Even without de Minaur, Australia has a strong squad with Popyrin and Thompson both ranked in the top 30 and Purcell and Ebden having both notched grand slam doubles triumphs and are respectively ranked fifth and eighth in the world.

But Hewitt would have undoubtedly hoped de Minaur would be right in time for the finals in Malaga. Speaking after Australia qualified for the final eight last week Hewitt said "he's going to do everything to get back as quickly as possible".

Alex de Minaur set to target Australian Open return?

With the Davis Cup finals now a long shot de Minaur the Aussies focus will likely be on getting himself in the best possible shape for the Australian Open in Melbourne in January. The Aussie No.1 technically could return before then for the ATP Finals in Turin in late November, as he currently occupies the No.8 and final spot with 3305 points. However, if he isn't right in time for the Davis Cup finals he will likely forego that event as well and even if he wants to compete he will likely be surpassed in the rankings by that time anyway.

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So more than likely de Minaur's focus would have shifted to getting himself right for the Aussie Open. The Sydneysider has only played one tournament since being forced to withdraw from the Wimbledon quarter-finals with a hip injury in July - and that was the US Open. In New York, he battled his way into the last eight again but was clearly hampered by the injury and was swept aside by Jack Draper in the quarter-finals.

Rafa Nadal set to compete at Davis Cup finals

Rafa Nadal is set to make his return to the court for the Davis Cup finals, just weeks after withdrawing from the Laver Cup. The Spanish legend revealed back in April that he would be playing in the teams event, and many predicted it would be where the 38-year-old officially announced his retirement. However, he pulled out just a week before the event.

Nadal last took the court as part of a doubles team with Carlos Alcaraz at the Paris Olympics, and after being selected for Spain on Monday, that duo could be reunited for one final time. Spain named both Alcaraz and Nadal as part of their team, however, captain David Ferrer also has World doubles No.1 Marcel Granollers in his side so there is a possibility that Nadal won't get a game. However, if Nadal does take the court in Malaga it could realistically be his final competitive tennis appearance.

Davis Cup quarter-finals match-ups:

• Australia v United States

• Italy v Argentina

• Spain v Netherlands

• Canada v Germany

with AAP