By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Tuesday, November 19, 2024
Picture credit score: Davis Cup Fb
Explosiveness and the aspect of shock prompted Captain Bob Byran’s Davis Cup doubles determination.
Captain Bryan opted to begin debutant Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul towards Australians Matthew Ebden and Jordan Thompson within the decisive doubles match of at the moment’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 determination 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 fitting name.
“The doubles, we have now nice choices on this staff. Now we have an skilled doubles staff in Rajeev and Austin,” Bob Bryan stated. “And we have quite a lot 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 little bit bit abruptly, however these guys rose to the event and served a excessive proportion, took care of their, , their photographs and stepped up.
“, I am happy with the best way we competed. , we might have gained it this 12 months with this staff. This staff has the expertise and the flexibility. It got here inside an inch of getting one other likelihood 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 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 abruptly. 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 among the best doubles groups on the planet proper now, they usually confirmed it at the moment. So hats off to these guys. They carried out nicely.”
The U.S. Davis Cup staff awaits its draw for the 2025 Qualifying spherical, held the week of January 27, 2025. The Qualifying spherical will characteristic a standard 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
