By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Tuesday, November 19, 2024
Photograph credit score: Davis Cup Fb
Explosiveness and the ingredient of shock prompted Captain Bob Byran’s Davis Cup doubles resolution.
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 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 america and a return to the Davis Cup semifinals.
Requested about his resolution 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 staff. We’ve got an skilled doubles staff in Rajeev and Austin,” Bob Bryan mentioned. “And we have quite a lot of firepower from the singles lineup. It was a matchup resolution 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 realize, their pictures and stepped up.
“You understand, I am pleased with the way in which we competed. You understand, we might have gained it this 12 months with this staff. This staff has the expertise and the power. 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 internet the place their expertise was evident.
“Thompson, clearly US Open champion, finals of Wimbledon, a really completed 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 courtroom for 3 hours earlier within the day, so, you realize, 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. You understand, they’re probably the greatest doubles groups on the planet proper now, and so they confirmed it immediately. 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 function 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