By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Tuesday, November 19, 2024
Photo: Davis Cup Facebook
Explosiveness and the element of surprise prompted Captain Bob Byran’s Davis Cup doubles decider.
Captain Bryan chose to start on debut Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul against the Australians Matthew Ebden and Jordan Thompson in the decisive doubles match of today’s Davis Cup quarterfinals.
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Ebden and Thompson showed their mettle by posting a 6-4, 6-4 win over the American pair to lift Australia to a 2-1 win over the United States and a return to the Davis Cup semi-finals.
Asked about his decision to bench projected starters and Olympic silver medalists Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram in favor of Paul and Shelton, Bob Byran said it was the right call.
“Doubles, we have great options on this team. We have an experienced doubles team in Rajeev and Austin,” said Bob Bryan. “And we’ve got a lot of firepower from the single formation. It was a game decision in this case, and I wouldn’t change a thing. We were hoping to catch the Aussies a little bit by surprise, but those guys rose to the occasion and served in a high percentage, took care of their shots, you know, and grew.
“You know, I’m proud of the way we competed. You know, we could have won this year with this team. This team has the talent and the skill. It came within a palm of getting another chance at the semifinals.”
Olympic gold medalist Ebden and US Open doubles champion Thompson were particularly effective at closing the net where their experience was evident.
“Thompson, obviously the US Open champion, the Wimbledon finals, a very accomplished doubles player,” Bob Bryan said. Matt Ebden won the Olympics. Matt Ebden has seen Rajeev and Austin play a set in the last couple of years and he hasn’t seen much of Ben and Tommy.
“It was a tactical thing to catch them off guard. Ben was obviously on the field for three hours earlier in the day, so, you know, you get the rhythm there. Tommy, you saw what he did at the Olympics .We Everyone respects his doubles.
“Those guys played tough. You know, they’re one of the best doubles teams in the world right now, and they showed that today. So hats off to those guys. They performed well.”
The USA Davis Cup team hosts its 2025 qualifying round draw, held the week of January 27, 2025. The qualifying round will feature a traditional home-and-home tie, with the winner advancing to a new home-round. mitar in September.
Davis Cup quarter-finals – Australia 2, USA 1
Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) d. Ben Shelton (USA), 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (14)
Taylor Fritz (USA) d. Alex de Minaur (AUS), 6-3, 6-4
Matthew Ebden / Jordan Thompson (AUS) d. Tommy Paul / Ben Shelton (USA), 6-4, 6-4
