By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Tuesday, November 19, 2024
Photo: Mike McNulty/Getty for ITF Davis Cup
American stars showed courage for medals at the Paris Olympics.
Now, Team USA is united in its quest to capture the Davis Cup.
More: TC suspends Jon Wertheim
The United States will face Australia on Thursday in a quarterfinal matchup of the two most successful nations in Davis Cup history in Malaga, Spain..
The USA is playing for a record 33rd Davis Cup championship and its first Davis Cup crown since 2007 when it defeated Russia in the final in Portland, Oregon.
28-time Davis Cup champions Australia were runners-up to Italy last year.
Captain Lleyton Hewitt the team is playing for its first Davis Cup championship since 2003.
Meeting the media in Malaga today, captain Bob Bryan, who played a key role in the 2007 championship team, simply stated the American intention.
“The dream is to win the Cup,” said captain Bob Bryan. “I think we all have faith. Obviously, you know, the first hurdle is Australia, so we’re extremely focused on that. We will prepare.
“The practices are going well. We have a great roster, you know, top to bottom.”
US Open and ATP Finals finalist Taylor Fritz made the trip from Turin to Malaga to lead an American team that features the former Australian Open semifinalist Tommy Paul, former US Open semi-finalist Ben Shelton and Olympic doubles silver medalists Austin Krajicek AND Rajeev Ram.
“I don’t need to go through all these guys. They have a lot of experience,” said captain Bryan. “Ben is joining the team for the first time. We’re very pleased to have him with us, and he obviously comes from college tennis. He knows what he’s about. doing these team events and, you know, also being a participant in the Laver Cup.”
American no. 1 Fritz said he is feeling both tired and fired up after his historic run in Turin, where he became the first American since James Blake in 2006 to compete in an ATP Finals title match.
“I feel good. Obviously it’s been a long year,” said Fritz. “I’m very tired, but once I’m here, once I’m on the field, you know, playing this competition with the team, there’s no way I’m not going to go on the field and feel full. get up and feel motivated to play.
“I think the fact that it’s a team event, playing for all these guys, playing for the USA, you know, even though it’s been a long year, it gives me that extra motivation that I’m not worried about being. able to go out there and give it my all.”
Australian no. 1 Alex de Minaurwho owns a 5-4 record against Fritz, leads an Australian team that features Alexei Popyrinthe man who shocked Novak Djokovic at the US Open, US Open doubles champion Jordan Thompson, Thanasi Kokkinakis AND Matthew Ebden.
AUSTRALIA Matthew Ebden and John Peers defeated Krajicek and Ram, 10-8 in the tiebreaker, to win the Olympic gold medal in doubles. Fritz and Paul received the Olympic bronze medal in Paris.
In its 104-year Davis Cup history, Australia made its mark as the only nation to rally from a 0-2 deficit in the final when it fought back from 0-2 down to beat the United States in the 1939 final is.
Captain Bryan points to his squad’s versatility – all five players can play doubles while Fritz and Shelton partnered at the Laver Cup – experience and stylistic variety as strengths.
The winner of the Australia-USA quarter-final will face either defending champions Italy led by world No.1 Jannik Sinner or Argentina in the first semi-final.
“The Davis Cup is different. The atmosphere can bring out special performances in the players,” said Bob Bryan. “You’ve seen a lot of big upsets in this event over the years.
“Look, (Italy) won it last year for a reason. They are a strong team, Italy. But there are many teams that can win this tournament and we have the confidence that we can do it.”
While the Americans praised clay king Rafael Nadal before his farewell, they will not be on the court when the 22nd Grand Slam champion takes on the Netherlands today.
“We can’t get tickets,” said Captain Bryan. “I think the tickets will go for $100,000. If you want to pay for me, I’ll go (smiling).”
