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 choice.
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 at present’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 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 suitable name.
“The doubles, we’ve got nice choices on this group. We now have an skilled doubles group in Rajeev and Austin,” Bob Bryan mentioned. “And we have got numerous firepower from the singles lineup. It was a matchup choice on this case, and I would not change a factor. We had been hoping to catch the Aussies a little bit bit without warning, however these guys rose to the event and served a excessive share, took care of their, you understand, their photographs and stepped up.
“You recognize, I am happy with the way in which we competed. You recognize, we might have received it this yr 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 significantly 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 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 without warning. Ben was clearly on the court docket for 3 hours earlier within the day, so, you understand, 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 powerful. You recognize, they’re probably the greatest doubles groups on the earth proper now, and so they confirmed it at present. 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 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
