By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Tuesday, November 19, 2024
Photograph credit score: Davis Cup Fb
Explosiveness and the aspect of shock prompted Captain Bob Byran’s Davis Cup doubles choice.
Captain Bryan opted to start out debutant Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul as last-minute substitutions towards Australians Matthew Ebden and Jordan Thompson within the decisive doubles match of right now’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 choice to bench scheduled starters and Olympic silver medalists Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram in favor of Paul and Shelton, Bob Byran mentioned it was the precise name.
“The doubles, we have now nice choices on this crew. Now we have an skilled doubles crew in Rajeev and Austin,” Bob Bryan mentioned. “And we have got lots of firepower from the singles lineup. It was a matchup choice on this case, and I would not change a factor. We have been hoping to catch the Aussies slightly bit without warning, however these guys rose to the event and served a excessive share, took care of their, you recognize, their pictures and stepped up.
“, I am pleased with the best way we competed. , we may have gained it this yr with this crew. This crew has the expertise and the power. 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 have been notably efficient closing at internet the place their expertise was evident.
“Thompson, clearly US Open champion, finals of Wimbledon, a really achieved doubles participant,” Bob Bryan mentioned. “Matt Ebden gained 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 without warning. Ben was clearly on the courtroom for 3 hours earlier within the day, so, you recognize, 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. , they’re top-of-the-line doubles groups on this planet proper now, they usually confirmed it right now. So hats off to these guys. They carried out nicely.”
The U.S. Davis Cup crew 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
