By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Tuesday, November 19, 2024
Picture credit score: Mike McNulty/Getty for ITF Davis Cup
U.S. stars confirmed the mettle to medal on the Paris Olympics.
Now, Workforce USA is united in its quest to seize the Davis Cup.
Extra: TC Suspends Jon Wertheim
The USA will face Australia on Thursday in a quarterfinal conflict of the 2 most profitable nations in Davis Cup historical past in Malaga, Spain.
The USA is taking part in for a record-extending thirty third Davis Cup championship—and first Davis Cup crown since 2007 when it beat Russia within the remaining staged in Portland, Oregon.
The 28-time Davis Cup champion Australia was runner-up to Italy final yr.
Captain Lleyton Hewitt’s squad is taking part in for its first Davis Cup championship since 2003.
Assembly the media in Malaga in the present day, Captain Bob Bryan, who performed a key position on the 2007 championship squad, acknowledged the American purpose merely.
“The dream is to win the Cup,” Captain Bob Bryan stated. “I believe all of us have the idea. Clearly, you realize, the primary hurdle is Australia, so we’re ultra-focused on that. We’ll be ready.
“The practices are going nicely. We now have an amazing roster, you realize, from high to backside.”
US Open and ATP Finals finalist Taylor Fritz made the journey from Turin to Malaga to steer an American squad that options former Australian Open semifinalist Tommy Paul, former US Open semifinalist Ben Shelton and Olympic doubles silver medal winners Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram.
“I needn’t undergo all these guys. They’ve tons of expertise,” Captain Bryan stated. “Ben has joined the group for the primary time. We’re very pumped to have him with us, and he clearly comes from school tennis. He is aware of what these group occasions are all about and, you realize, being a Laver Cup participant, as nicely.”
American No. 1 Fritz stated he’s feeling fatigued and fired up after his historic run in Turin the place he turned the primary American since James Blake in 2006 to contest the ATP Finals title match.
“I really feel good. Clearly it has been a protracted yr,” Fritz stated. “I am fairly worn out, however as soon as I am right here, as soon as I am on the court docket, you realize, taking part in this competitors with the group, there is not any approach that I am not going to go on the court docket and really feel pumped up and really feel motivated to play.
“I believe the truth that it is a group occasion, taking part in for all these guys, taking part in for the U.S., you realize, though it has been a protracted yr, it offers me that further motivation that I am not frightened that I am going to be capable to go on the market and provides it all the pieces.”
Australian No. 1 Alex de Minaur, who owns a 5-4 report vs. Fritz, leads an Australian group that options Alexei Popyrin, the person who shocked Novak Djokovic on the US Open, US Open doubles champion Jordan Thompson, Thanasi Kokkinakis and Matthew Ebden.
Aussies Matthew Ebden and John Friends edged Krajicek and Ram, 10-8 within 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 historical past, Australia made its mark as the one nation to rally from an 0-2 deficit within the remaining when it fought again from 0-2 right down to defeat the USA within the 1939 remaining.
Captain Bryan factors to his squad’s versatility—all 5 gamers can play doubles as Fritz and Shelton partnered at Laver Cup—expertise and stylistic selection as strengths.
The winner of the Australia v. USA quarterfinal will face both defending-champion Italy led by world No. 1 Jannik Sinner or Argentina within the top-half semifinal.
“Davis Cup’s completely different. The environment can carry out particular performances in gamers,” Bob Bryan stated. “You’ve seen quite a lot of massive upsets on this occasion through the years.
“Look, [Italy] received it final yr for a cause. They are a powerful group, Italy. However there’s quite a lot of groups that may win this event, and we now have the idea we are able to do it.”
Whereas the People praised king of clay Rafael Nadal forward of his farewell, they will not be courtside when the 22-time Grand Slam champion faces Netherlands in the present day.
“We won’t get tickets,” Captain Bryan stated. “I believe the tickets are going for $100,000. If you wish to pay for me, I am going to go (smiling).”
