By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Tuesday, November 19, 2024
Picture credit score: Davis Cup Fb
Explosiveness and the factor of shock prompted Captain Bob Byran’s Davis Cup doubles resolution.
Captain Bryan opted to begin debutant Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul as last-minute substitutions in opposition to Australians Matthew Ebden and Jordan Thompson within the decisive doubles match of at this time’s Davis Cup quarterfinals.
Extra: TC Suspends Jon Wertheim
Ebden and Thompson confirmed their prowess posting a 6-4, 6-4 win over the American pair lifting Australia to a 2-1 victory over the USA and a return to the Davis Cup semifinals.
Requested about his resolution to bench scheduled starters and Olympic silver medalists Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram in favor of Paul and Shelton, Bob Byran stated it was the precise name.
“The doubles, we now have nice choices on this workforce. Now we have an skilled doubles workforce in Rajeev and Austin,” Bob Bryan stated. “And we have a variety of firepower from the singles lineup. It was a matchup resolution on this case, and I would not change a factor. We had been hoping to catch the Aussies just a little bit abruptly, however these guys rose to the event and served a excessive proportion, took care of their, , their pictures and stepped up.
“You understand, I am happy with the way in which we competed. You understand, we might have received it this yr with this workforce. This workforce has the expertise and the flexibility. It got here inside an inch of getting one other probability within the semis.”
Olympic gold-medal champion Ebden and US Open doubles champion Thompson had been notably efficient closing at web the place their expertise was evident.
“Thompson, clearly US Open champion, finals of Wimbledon, a really completed doubles participant,” Bob Bryan stated. “Matt Ebden received the Olympics. Matt Ebden has seen Rajeev and Austin play a bunch within the final couple of years, and he hasn’t seen an excessive amount of of Ben and Tommy.
“It was a tactical factor attempting to take them abruptly. Ben was clearly on the courtroom for 3 hours earlier within the day, so, , you discover rhythm on the market. Tommy, you noticed what he did on the Olympics. All of us respect his doubles. We took a shot at it.
“These guys performed robust. You understand, they’re probably the greatest doubles groups on this planet proper now, and so they confirmed it at this time. So hats off to these guys. They carried out effectively.”
The U.S. Davis Cup workforce awaits its draw for the 2025 Qualifying spherical, held the week of January 27, 2025. The Qualifying spherical will characteristic a conventional home-and-away tie with the winner advancing to a brand new home-and-away spherical in September.
Davis Cup Quarterfinals—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
