Davis Cup: Team USA - Is a Team Principal Discussion Appropriate?
The United States lost 2-1 to Italy in the Davis Cup quarterfinals in Malaga yesterday. And missed a few chances from the start.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Nov 24, 2022, 10:38 pm
You can't go wrong with Jack Sock. That much is certain, all experts in world tennis will confirm that. Regardless of his current world rankings, Sock is considered the best doubles player in the world. Seen in this way, Mardy Fish, the US captain, hit the nail on the head with the nomination of the now 30-year-old.
But you have to come up with Tommy Paul as a doubles partner first. Paul made it to position 33 in the individual this year, and the trend is still rising. However, the man from New Jersey has not yet been able to shine as a pair skater. Now you don't want to put the 4: 6 and 4: 6 against Fabio Fognini and Simone Bolelli in the decisive doubles in Málaga down to Paul alone. But it's not as if Mardy Fish didn't have a veritable alternative.
Ram pretty mad
Rajeev Ram only won the ATP Finals on Sunday in Turin alongside Joe Salisbury. And after winning the title, he expressed his incomprehension that he was not nominated. Ram would have been sporty, he would have felt like it - and even a free place. Because Fish had only come to Málaga with four players.
Who knows whether the US association, the USTA, will still address this. After all, the starting position with Taylor Fritz at the top against injury-plagued Italians was not bad.
How important a well-rehearsed double is, you will possibly see today in the first semi-final between Croatia and Australia. Because the Olympic champions Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic could meet the Wimbledon champions Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell.