Bob Bryan on U.S. Davis Cup Doubles Decision

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Tuesday, November 19, 2024
Picture credit score: Davis Cup Fb 

Explosiveness and the ingredient of shock prompted Captain Bob Byran’s Davis Cup doubles determination.

Captain Bryan opted to begin debutant Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul as last-minute substitutions towards Australians Matthew Ebden and Jordan Thompson within the decisive doubles match of immediately’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 US and a return to the Davis Cup semifinals.

Requested about his determination 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 fitting name.

“The doubles, we’ve got nice choices on this group. We’ve got an skilled doubles group in Rajeev and Austin,” Bob Bryan mentioned. “And we have got lots of firepower from the singles lineup. It was a matchup determination on this case, and I would not change a factor. We had been hoping to catch the Aussies a bit bit without warning, however these guys rose to the event and served a excessive proportion, took care of their, , their pictures and stepped up.

“, I am pleased with the best way we competed. , we might have gained it this 12 months with this group. This group 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 had been notably efficient closing at web 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 making an attempt to take them without warning. Ben was clearly on the court docket 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. , they’re probably the greatest doubles groups on this planet proper now, they usually confirmed it immediately. So hats off to these guys. They carried out properly.”

The U.S. Davis Cup group 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