It’s do or die for the United States of America in the Davis Cup when doubles hits the Pat Rafter Arena after Nick Kyrgios and Jordan Thompson got Australia off to the perfect start yesterday. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 1pm (AEST).
It took just seven sets of Tennis for Thompson and Kyrgios to flip the tie on its head yesterday and leave the USA in a situation where they must win every match to take the tie.
Thompson, who took on America’s No.1 player Jack Sock came away with a hard-fought win in four sets, before Kyrgios took almost two and a half hours to win in straight sets over John Isner.
The focus isn’t on the singles players today though. John Peers and Sam Groth, who have teamed up in each of Australia’s last two Davis Cup ties will be out to end the tie before the reverse singles get underway on Sunday.
While Peers and Groth are yet to lose at Davis Cup level, this will be a whole new challenge for the duo, given they have only beaten relatively week teams from Slovakia and the Czech Republic so far.
Despite Peers being among the top doubles players in the world and Groth being a handy addition with his monstrous serve, the American’s have a number of options at their disposal for the match.
While Steve Johnson and Sam Querrey have been nominated for doubles, there is a chance the American’s could turn to Jack Sock, who along with Peers is an extremely good doubles player. After a three hour battle yesterday and a match against Kyrgios tomorrow morning to follow though, he should be allowed to rest.
In saying that, Sock did partner Johnson earlier in the year when the USA beat Switzerland and Querrey has recently beat Kyrgios, so team selection is up in the air.
Johnson and Querrey are used to playing on the same team with appearances outside of the Davis Cup dating back to 2015. That include grand slam tennis and some very strong victories in the process.
Querrey’s big serve will make him the foil for Groth, and the battle between the pair will be good to watch, while Johnson is a consistent player and does a lot of good things at the net.
Prediction
Regardless of the combination the USA go with for doubles, they have plenty of experience playing doubles and could catch Groth out. Peers will hold his own, but it’s tough to see him carrying the Aussies to victory.
We will be back on Sunday with live rubbers.
USA in five sets.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the Davis Cup doubles from 1pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add your own comments throughout the course of the coverage.
Scott Pryde
Expert
That'll wrap up today's coverage of the 2017 Davis Cup as the United States of America kept the tie alive in a five set thriller over Australia. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. I'll be live from 12pm (AEST) tomorrow for the remaining live matches. Whether that's one or it's two, we will be here till the tie is done. Nick Kyrgios is scheduled to be first up against Jack Sock, before Jordan Thompson takes on John Isner, but there could be changes, particularly for the USA after they were dominated yesterday. Right now, swing it over to the homepage for our normal feast of Saturday sport. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Yeah will be interesting to see what happens there.
Scott Pryde
Expert
MATCH STATISTICS Match Duration: 2 hours and 32 minutes Aces: Australia (9), USA (4) Double faults: Australia (5), USA (2) First serves in: Australia (85/124 @ 68%), USA (93/128 @ 72%) Points won on first serve: Australia (65/85 @ 76%), USA (70/93 @ 75%) Break points won: Australia (3/12), USA (5/10) Total winners: Australia (42), USA (35) Unforced errors: Australia (29), USA (29) Total points won: Australia (124), USA (128)
JGK
Roar Guru
Querry the upset specialist so maybe.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the match Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
Cheers. Got a funny feeling Sam Querrey is going to play Kyrgios. He beat him just a few weeks ago and as you say, Sock is going to be buggered.
Scott Pryde
Expert
GAME, SET, MATCH USA We are coming back tomorrow for live rubbers! Sock sends a forehand down the line and wraps it up for the USA. They were the better team after the first set and deserved the victory. Australia (Sam Groth and John Peers) 6 3 2 6 3 United States of America (Steve Johnson and Jack Sock) 3 6 6 2 6
JGK
Roar Guru
Nice prediction. Let's hope Sock is totally buggered for tomorrow now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Australia save the first match point then. Peers serves at Johnson and the return goes into the net. AUS 6 3 2 6 3 - 30 USA 3 6 6 2 5 - 40
Scott Pryde
Expert
Peers with a fault then a ball is slammed back at Groth and it comes out as a defensive lob. Sock lines up the forehand down the line, sends it past and we have two match points. AUS 6 3 2 6 3 - 15 USA 3 6 6 2 5 - 40
Scott Pryde
Expert
Oh dear. America with a big opportunity now. Peers with a good serve and he tried to rush the net, but was then turned around and sent the ball long. AUS 6 3 2 6 3 - 15 USA 3 6 6 2 5 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
Peers with a double fault. AUS 6 3 2 6 3 - 15 USA 3 6 6 2 5 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Peers with a body serve at Johnson and he returns into the net. AUS 6 3 2 6 3 - 15 USA 3 6 6 2 5 - 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fault from Sock before Peers returns the second on a forehand, but he shanks it into the grandstand. So, a nervous hold but the American's are now just a game away. Peers serving to keep Australia in the match. AUS 6 3 2 6 3 - USA 3 6 6 2 5 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
Groth with some terrific scramble there, but he misses the reaching forehand, sending it long. AUS 6 3 2 6 3 - USA 3 6 6 2 4 - AD
Scott Pryde
Expert
Peers now returns a change up body serve wide. Tension and pressure builds right here. AUS 6 3 2 6 3 - USA 3 6 6 2 4 - deuce (1)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Australia have break point! What a play from Groth. He bludgeons some forehands from the corner before Johnson gets the racquet on it at the net. Groth makes an extremely tough half volley and Johnson misses. AUS 6 3 2 6 3 - 40 USA 3 6 6 2 4 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
What a return of serve from Peers! Sock would have thought he had that with a wide one, but Peers gets the racquet on it and sends it back up the line. AUS 6 3 2 6 3 - 30 USA 3 6 6 2 4 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
Sock with a fault before he goes to the body of Groth. He has to play a forehand from the baseline but Sock puts the backhand past down the line. AUS 6 3 2 6 3 - 15 USA 3 6 6 2 4 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fault from Sock before he goes to the body of Peers. Wonderful point there from both sides but Peers eventually scrambles for one, makes it and Johnson can't get it off his body. AUS 6 3 2 6 3 - 15 USA 3 6 6 2 4 - 15