No Nick Kyrgios, but no problem for Hewitt

Lleyton Hewitt says he'd love to have had Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios throwing his considerable talent behind Australia's Davis Cup push.

Yet captain Hewitt is perfectly happy with the team of warriors who've "put their hand up for their country" and reached the semi-finals of this year's competition without the help of his potentially most devastating singles weapon.

Kyrgios, who has opted out of the Davis Cup fray for three years now, had himself remarked last week at the ATP Finals in Turin that he felt the current team, led by the inspired Alex de Minaur, was equipped to win the trophy in Malaga this week, even without him.

And it looked that way on Tuesday when de Minaur and Jordan Thompson both earned the singles victories that carried Hewitt's men to a 2-0 victory over the Netherlands to qualify for Friday's semi.

"Well, obviously we would have loved to have Nick play. You know, he's had an incredible year and not played that many tournaments, (and) we all know the capability of how he can play high-level tennis when he's motivated," said Hewitt, when asked about Kyrgios's absence.

"For us not to have him here, we put that aside and we try and come together, and we've got a good group of guys here that are willing to do the hard yards and put their hand up for their country - and I couldn't be prouder of all of them."

After a hard week's training camp in Paris, Hewitt plumped for Jordan Thompson to back up de Minaur in the singles, and was rewarded with a terrific, gutsy performance from the Sydneysider, who scrapped his way to victory over Tallon Griekspoor.

But the captain was adamant he would have been just as happy to go with Thanasi Kokkinakis or Jason Kubler, who were enthusiastic cheerleaders on the bench in Malaga.

"I would have had as much faith in Kubes going out there and playing tonight as I did Thommo .… Thanasi, I could have easily played him as well," shrugged Hewitt.

"Tough decisions, but some you get right, some you don't, and tonight it fell our way."

Hewitt admitted to having kittens about the outcome, such was the nip-and-tuck nature of the two three-setters.

"But I'm just really proud of the boys. They left it all out there … they wear their heart on their sleeve and love wearing the green and gold."

On Wednesday, Australia will learn who they'll play in the last-four as Spain, with no Carlos Alcaraz or Rafael Nadal in their ranks, face last year's finalists Croatia, who might be the strongest team in the finals, with Marin Cilic, Borna Coric and doubles stars Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic.