Bob Bryan on U.S. Davis Cup Doubles Decision

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

Explosiveness and the component 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 as we speak’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 choice 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 proper name.

“The doubles, we now have nice choices on this workforce. We’ve an skilled doubles workforce in Rajeev and Austin,” Bob Bryan stated. “And we have quite a lot 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 a bit of bit without warning, however these guys rose to the event and served a excessive proportion, took care of their, you recognize, their pictures and stepped up.

“You realize, I am happy with the way in which we competed. You realize, we might have gained it this 12 months with this workforce. This workforce has the expertise and the flexibility. 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 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 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 powerful. You realize, they’re among the best doubles groups on this planet proper now, and so they confirmed it as we speak. So hats off to these guys. They carried out properly.”

The U.S. Davis Cup workforce 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