By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Tuesday, November 19, 2024
Photo credit: Mike McNulty/Getty for ITF Davis Cup
U.S. stars showed the mettle to medal 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 clash of the two most successful nations in Davis Cup history in Malaga, Spain.
The USA is playing for a record-extending 33rd Davis Cup championship—and first Davis Cup crown since 2007 when it beat Russia in the final staged in Portland, Oregon.
The 28-time Davis Cup champion Australia was runner-up to Italy last year.
Captain Lleyton Hewitt’s squad is playing for its first Davis Cup championship since 2003.
Meeting the media in Malaga today, Captain Bob Bryan, who played a key role on the 2007 championship squad, stated the American aim simply.
“The dream is to win the Cup,” Captain Bob Bryan said. “I think we all have the belief. Obviously, you know, the first hurdle is Australia, so we’re ultra-focused on that. We’re going to be prepared.
“The practices are going well. We have a great roster, you know, from top to bottom.”
US Open and ATP Finals finalist Taylor Fritz made the trip from Turin to Malaga to lead an American squad that features former Australian Open semifinalist Tommy Paul, former US Open semifinalist Ben Shelton and Olympic doubles silver medal winners Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram.
“I don’t need to go through all these guys. They have tons of experience,” Captain Bryan said. “Ben has joined the team for the first time. We’re very pumped to have him with us, and he obviously comes from college tennis. He knows what these team events are all about and, you know, being a Laver Cup participant, as well.”
American No. 1 Fritz said he’s feeling fatigued and fired up after his historic run in Turin where he became the first American since James Blake in 2006 to contest the ATP Finals title match.
“I feel good. Obviously it’s been a long year,” Fritz said. “I’m pretty worn out, but once I’m here, once I’m on the court, you know, playing this competition with the team, there’s no way that I’m not going to go on the court and feel pumped up and feel motivated to play.
“I think the fact that it’s a team event, playing for all these guys, playing for the U.S., you know, even though it’s been a long year, it gives me that extra motivation that I’m not worried that I’ll be able to go out there and give it everything.”
Australian No. 1 Alex de Minaur, who owns a 5-4 record vs. Fritz, leads an Australian team that features Alexei Popyrin, the man who shocked Novak Djokovic at the US Open, US Open doubles champion Jordan Thompson, Thanasi Kokkinakis and Matthew Ebden.
Aussies Matthew Ebden and John Peers edged Krajicek and Ram, 10-8 in the match tiebreaker, to win the Olympic doubles gold medal. Fritz and Paul took the Olympic bronze medal in Paris.
In its storied 104-year Davis Cup history, Australia made its mark as the only nation to rally from an 0-2 deficit in the final when it fought back from 0-2 down to defeat the United States in the 1939 final.
Captain Bryan points to his squad’s versatility—all five players can play doubles as Fritz and Shelton partnered at Laver Cup—experience and stylistic variety as strengths.
The winner of the Australia v. USA quarterfinal will face either defending-champion Italy led by world No. 1 Jannik Sinner or Argentina in the top-half semifinal.
“Davis Cup’s different. The atmosphere can bring out special performances in players,” Bob Bryan said. “You have seen a lot of big upsets in this event over the years.
“Look, [Italy] won it last year for a reason. They’re a tough team, Italy. But there is a lot of teams that can win this tournament, and we have the belief we can do it.”
While the Americans praised king of clay Rafael Nadal ahead of his farewell, they won’t be courtside when the 22-time Grand Slam champion faces Netherlands today.
“We can’t get tickets,” Captain Bryan said. “I think the tickets are going for $100,000. If you want to pay for me, I’ll go (smiling).”
