Tennis Prose




Apr/17

7

Aussies Thompson and Kyrgios stun USA’s Sock and Isner

53 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Bios

davis cup
By Louise Belcourt
The home country Australia had a perfect start to day one of their Davis Cup quarter final clash against USA in Brisbane.
USA was sporting 4 players in the top 30, with Australia only having one in 16th ranked Kyrgios, with the Aussies pinning their hopes on the brash and entertaining young gun.
But it was Jack Sock who was left speechless, after his 6-3 3-6 7-6(4) 6-4 loss to Jordan Thompson. The 22 year old Aussie ranked 79 in the world was able to defend and then deflate the world number 15. No one expected Thompson to trouble the in-form Sock, although the rowdy Brisbane crowd were hopeful of a good fight, but he seemed to lift and fight for every point and turned defence into attack whenever he could.
Sock offered little reason for his demise in his press conference that lasted a mind blowing 1 minute and only 27 words, saying “He served well, made a lot of balls.”
Thompson spoke about the pressure of playing for his country “there’s a little bit of extra pressure, I guess, playing for the green and gold and seeing Lleyton on the sideline, but he’s there to help and, yeah, he knows that.”
Australian captain Lleyton Hewitt said of Thompson “I can tell that when I’m talking to him he’s engaged in the conversation, and on court, and that’s really important because then we’re on the same wavelength. And Thommo’s a great kid and he leaves his heart and soul out there. I’ve done a lot of hard work with him over the last, probably, six months or so, and it’s nice to see it paying off on him.”
Having lost the first rubber, the pressure then turned on American John Isner to try and tame the beast that is Nick Kyrgios. Isner had a winning 2-1 head-to-head against Kyrgios, but the Australian fans were confident of a win following the great form and composure he’s shown of late (most notably having only a week ago lost one of the matches of the year, against Federer in the semi-final of Miami).
Isner went down fighting in a tight 3 setter 7-5 7-6(5) 7-6(5). Starting slowly Kyrgios lost the first 3 games but fought back to win the set and the hearts of the crowd. After some astonishing groundstrokes and serving from both players, Kyrgios was able to come back from mini-breaks down in both tiebreakers to win the match. Kyrgios returned one of the best servers in the game with ease, and he himself served probably better than his 6 foot 10” opponent.
World number 23, Isner said of the match “I felt like I played well enough to have beaten a lot of people out there today, but not Nick; I thought he played pretty well and came up clutch at the end and he certainly deserved to win. As you mentioned, those two returns at 5:4 and 5-all, were pretty high-quality and he did it and, you know, it was good play.”
Of having Hewitt in his corner Kyrgios said “he just tells me to back myself. ‘Just keep going’ he said. ‘You’ll get your chances, just keep competing for every point’. And he knows best, so that’s what I did and I got the win.”
So Jim Courier’s team is looking down the barrel of defeat, but he was not giving up saying “We’ve been here before, we’ve been up 2:0 and ended up losing and we rallied. So we know that it takes three, and tomorrow’s a new day. We’re certainly not happy with the scoreboard, by any means, but we’re professionals and we’ll be ready to play come tomorrow.”
So can the greatest Davis cup winning country, USA, turn this devastating start around, or will the second most successful country, Australia, reach the semi-final of the Davis Cup?

No tags

53 comments

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 7, 2017 at 10:02 am

    Not a total shocker because Sock got a late start to Brisbane by playing the Key Biscayne doubles final late Saturday – Jordan Thompson is well rested and prepared as he lost first round in KB to Nishioka in three sets and it was a tight battle – Jordan is a tough crafty steady player and an underrated one – Sock is vulnerable in these types of matches where he is playing a lesser regarded player and he is the heavy favorite – He has to fix this – Jordan said the plan was to play within himself and try to wear down Sock and that’s what he did – He also credited Hewitt as a great inspiration – Very short press conference by Sock which shows he is really really annoyed and this will be a good spark for Sock but it will only get tougher as a showdown with his good friend Kyrgios looms on Sunday –

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 7, 2017 at 10:07 am

    Kyrgios looks just about unbeatable right now – Didn’t see Isner’s challenge of Kyrgios but the scoreline shows he gave it a great battle as always and just came up short – With the way Nick is playing right now I’d say this tie is over because Sock Johnson or Querrey will not beat Nick in singles – Another early and disappointing Davis Cup loss for Courier’s crew despite very high hopes –

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 7, 2017 at 10:59 am

    Hewitt said he took Jordan under his win a half year ago – I saw Jordan play Darcis at US Open last year on grandstand and Hewitt was there or all five sets – Jordan served for the straight set win and had one or two match points but ended up losing the third fourth and fifth sets to Darcis – I think Hewitt has created Jordan into a serious player like how Korda did to young struggling obscure Stepanek –

  • Chazz · April 7, 2017 at 11:18 am

    It sounds like Sock’s recent tendency to double fault at inopportune times came back to bite him. I started to notice it at Miami. Davis Cup means a lot to him (as it should) so it’s no surprise he was deflated afterwards.

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 7, 2017 at 11:26 am

    I would guess Sock could possibly have underestimated Thompson along with not being as fresh and energized as he would have liked to be after flying late to Brisbane because of the miami open doubles final which basically was a big favor to his buddy nick monroe – Thompson had an extra week to prepare for Sock than Sock had to prepare for Thompson and that could have been the difference –

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 7, 2017 at 1:02 pm

    I like how fully engaged Hewitt is as captain – he looks like he’s ready to play himself wearing shorts and team shirt and hat though it’s not on backwards 🙂 He’s fist pumping on the side and super intense totally fully engaged – Courier looks far more relaxed and almost too relaxed – as if he’s at home in a Lazyboy reading the newspaper drinking a cup of tea – Courier can’t match Hewitt’s passion and intensity – nobody can –

  • Dan markowitz · April 7, 2017 at 3:47 pm

    Courier is terrible DCup coach. Sock better best Kyrgios if it means something on Sunday. Dude, how the heck do you lose to Jordan Thompson when you just reached Indy Wells semis and Miami quarters?! Saw QBall play doubles w Muller in Miami and his hands leave something to be desired, but QBall wouldn’t have lost to Thompson. That’s a putrid loss.

  • Scoop malinowski · April 7, 2017 at 6:35 pm

    Querrey is unreliable in Davis Cup singles. Remember when he blew the set and break lead to James Ward in San Diego? Courier remembers that and has reluctance to put trust in Q..Courier may even pull Q out of doubles tomorrow bc Sam has shown he cant handle Davis Cup pressure. But it is a big opportinity for Q to step up and conquer his Davis Cup demons.

  • Dan Markowitz · April 7, 2017 at 7:02 pm

    Peers and Groth don’t have as much experience playing together as SteveJo and Qball so the Americans should win. If they get beat 3-0 by the Aussies that is a real bad showing and maybe Courier should be shown the door because his captaincy has not produced much good DCup results.

    Who could replace Courier, that smug redhead? I’d like to see Tarango come in or maybe even it’s time for Roddick, he’s a DCup hero. He’d match Hewitt’s fire maybe or Taylor Dent would be a good choice.

    How bout your boy, Estrella Burgos, Scoop. What a success story he’s been. He’s into semis in Panama Challenger and the guy is a year older than Fed. Gotta love a guy turning 37 in August and he’s still in top 100 (37).

  • Andrew Miller · April 7, 2017 at 7:08 pm

    Courier should have scouted. What’s going on here. That’s a USA smack down. The UK beat down in 2015.

  • Scoop malinowski · April 7, 2017 at 8:19 pm

    Estrella is hanging in the top 100 borderline. He is the all time Rocky Balboa of tennis and he always will be. Nobody will ever come from where Estrella did and reach such heights in pro tennis.

  • Scoop malinowski · April 7, 2017 at 8:24 pm

    In surprised that Courier has had such consistently mediocre results as captain despite having some serious horses in his stable. This unit certainly has the potential to win the Cup and the narrow loss last yr to finalist Croatia proves it. But as we all know, strange things happen in the Davis Cup theater. Maybe the chemistry of this team is frayed because all four players are so competitive with each other in singles? Hewitts Aussie crew doesnt have that problem.

  • Andrew Miller · April 8, 2017 at 12:55 am

    Australia! SuperK.

  • Andrew Miller · April 8, 2017 at 12:58 am

    Maybe today’s losses will sink in. Hewitt apparently is a player whisperer, whatever he’s doing works.

  • stephen warren · April 8, 2017 at 6:19 am

    Just got home from the doubles. Have got tickets for tomorrow so I was in a win-win situation today. Woulda been happy to see us take the tie, but (the chance of) a live 5th rubber in a davis cup match is one of those experiences that’ll keep you warm in the retirement home, so the loss has made my tomorrow better. Bit too under the influence to give a match analysis worth a damn other to say that Peers and Sock were the picks on their respective sides of the net (despite peers being broken to love in the 5th) which is why they both play the ad-court I guess – with groth and Steve Jo chiming in and out with rocks or diamonds. Main reason for post is to say I now know that the Sock and Kyrgios’ friendship is on solid ground. They are uniquely emotionally underdeveloped. As the vanquished, the Aussie’s exited the stadium first, leaving the Americans and the courtside announcer who said that thanks to a sponsor the players would now hit some autographed balls into the crowd. The kids readied themselves as jack Sock got a ball, then proceeded to smash it (like give it EVERYTHING) about 100 meters out of the stadium. With the announcer still with a handful of balls, he put his racquet and the bag and zipped it up. Kids hey?

  • Hartt · April 8, 2017 at 7:19 am

    Hewitt, the player whisperer, must transfer his great intensity to the Aussie players.

  • Scoop malinowski · April 8, 2017 at 7:56 am

    Hewitt is a genius at motivating and managing extreme intensity. Its an art. Often greats are self centered but Hewitt is able to defer his greatness to serve his current players without his own ego. Masterful work by Hewitt. Certain all time greats could not be a Davis Cup captain but Hewitt is clearly doing a terrific job.

  • Dan Markowitz · April 8, 2017 at 8:37 am

    Exciting fifth set win for Sock/SteveJo today against Peers/Groth. Peers proved to be the weak link as his serve was broken twice in the fifth set. Sock had a couple of unreal returns and SteveJo, although he muffed a couple of easy poaches at the net, also shined with his serve and forehand.

    Now it comes down to whether Sock can pull the big upset tomorrow and knock off Kyrgios (Sock is ranked higher than NK, but everyone knows NK, although he’s nearly three years younger than Sock, is the player much more on the rise) because you’d think Izzie would take care of Thompson in the fifth-match rubber.

  • Dan Markowitz · April 8, 2017 at 8:39 am

    Just looking at men’s rankings, funniest coincidence, the no. 20 player is Zverev at 19. No. 21 is Dr. Ivo at 38! That doesn’t happen too often.

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 8, 2017 at 8:53 am

    Sock getting the nod over Q Ball by Courier is not a surprise at all but will Sock have enough left to beat Kyrgios – Sock did whoop Kyrgios in Hop Cup in Jan and they have practiced a lot together and I have witnessed a couple of practices and recall Nick verbally expressing awe at Sock’s forehand power – Interesting battle between two very good close friends – or could Johnson get the call by Courier? But very nice bounce back effort by Sock after losing the first singles – Thought Peers would hold up better than Grothy who has struggled for the last year or so with average results –

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 8, 2017 at 8:58 am

    Interesting observation Stephen – sounds like Sock is very fired up and perhaps a bit annoyed by the Aussie fans? This ball bash out of the arena gesture could rile up the fans for the final singles pairings – Sock is usually very well behaved but he does not always respond perfectly well when disrespected – Thanks for sharing and look forward to your observations after the last day of singles –

  • Chazz · April 8, 2017 at 9:15 am

    I also found Stephen’s observation about what Sock did interesting too. It makes his friendship with Kyrgios make even more sense. As Scoop has described Kyrgios as an enigma in the past, Sock is one as well but maybe to a lesser degree. If Sock starts yelling F You to the crowd, then we’ll know he and Nick are long lost brothers. Ha!

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 8, 2017 at 10:01 am

    So now we have to wonder if Courier will tap Querrey’s shoulder to take on Nick? Q Ball beat Nick in Acapulco in Feb and Sock has to be low on fuel after playing nine sets the last two days – But Courier witnessed Q Ball’s total collapse and choke in his last big Davis Cup singles task vs UK’s Ward in San Diego – I guess that Courier will call on Sock to battle Nick – This is the key duel of the tie as I think Isner or Johnson would beat Jordan Tho in the live fifth rubber –

  • Chazz · April 8, 2017 at 10:16 am

    You have to go with the big gun in the big match. Q Ball was en fuego in Acapulco but has come back down from that.

  • stephen warren · April 8, 2017 at 10:35 am

    Got to admit, I was in my cubicle crunching numbers when Jack was crunching forehands, but can imagine the crowd was spirited. Nothing galvanises an Australian crowd more than a perceived mismatch. i.e a battler taking down his better. The actors even look the part, with Jordan looking like he wandered over from the local fixtures across the road. But I can say the dubs crowd today was decidedly ho-hum. Being my first DC, i had hoped the atmo to be more intense than the tour event at the start of the year. Given how far our (Australia’s) DC success streches back, and the matinee match time, the crowd was an even split of families and fogies. If Jack’s action was justified from yesterday’s match, I’ll just say the boy can hold – and channel – a grudge nicely. If it was from today’s crowd, it was more of a F-you to ten year olds, and he should be prescribed something (this was post ‘win’ behaviour mind you).
    Tomorrow should be special though. Two friends at the the peak of their powers. And in Davis cup, ego meets expectation. Nations await.

  • Chazz · April 8, 2017 at 10:42 am

    Stephen, as someone who admires Jack’s game, his antics are sometimes perplexing to me. I just don’t get what he’s trying to do at times, but someone on here (I think it was Andrew) pointed out that a lot of what he does is gamesmanship. In this instance though, I’m not sure what the point could have been.

  • stephen warren · April 8, 2017 at 10:54 am

    Yeah chazz, it mightn’t sound like it from my couple of posts, but I’m a fan of Socks. Players like him (and Kyrgios) have a style and demeanour that commands your attention. THE ATP should clone them. He just doesn’t have control of his emotions is all you can say. And I guess I’m being a bit hypocritical in my calling him out, as whine about the Raonic’s for their detachment.

  • Scoop malinowski · April 8, 2017 at 11:33 am

    Players do strange things after winning sometimes. I was told Corretja destroyed his racquet on court AFTER a doubles win. Cant get more bizarre than that. These players are under stresses we cant imagine. Millions of eyes watch and judge them from luxury. I think critics are way too harsh on players behavior and inability to act perfect.

  • Scoop malinowski · April 8, 2017 at 11:35 am

    Bit unimpressed by the energy and spirit of the Brisbane crowds so far. Was expecting far more spirited atmosphere. You want to see atmosphere in sport, check out the documentary Boca about Boca Juniors futbol club in Argentina. Its on netflix.

  • Andrew Miller · April 8, 2017 at 12:51 pm

    I’d play Sock, then QBall or Izzie in fifth, unless Sock is injured. To me, given that Sock probably feels a need to prove himself, while Kyrgios already did against Isner, should give some extra motivation. Players like Sock should be able to comfortably play three high stakes matches, and for what it’s worth he could use the challenge. He got smacked by Nadal in Miami, even as it seemed he didn’t get his teeth into that match given he didn’t adjust much on serve, Nadal returning it so well. Kyrgios is a different challenge. I don’t see why Sock wouldn’t want to play this match.

    I think deep down Sock believes he can handle a high stakes match; given he blew the first one and partially recovered in doubles, he’s warmed up now and has some momentum to take on the fourth match.

  • Andrew Miller · April 8, 2017 at 1:00 pm

    Courier likely feels uncomfortable putting a “cold” player in, who hasn’t felt the pressure. I’m not convinced “saving” Querrey was a good idea either, even if Johnson has had a better doubles than singles run lately. Unless Querrey is absolutely crushing it in practice and returning every Isner serve with interest, I cant imagine this substitution.

    The risky choice would be give Kyrgios something to think about and spring Samimal in him. That would boost Querrey’s confidence and give him the mission impossible assignment, which Querrey has excelled at before outside of Davis Cup. If he really is blistering teammates in practice, sure, why not roll the die and bench Sock.

    But I can’t believe Courier throwing in a player cold. He may be forced to do it, if Sock is exhausted etc.

    All I can say is: This is a depleted Australian squad, and it’s a must win for the USA Davis cup squad. USA men have lost to inspired Davis Cup opponents with low rankings, but they are always head scratchers (including Roddick’s loss to a then green Nadal in 2004 Davis cup final). They are all shock losses.

  • Dan Markowitz · April 8, 2017 at 1:56 pm

    Don’t think Sock could beat Kyrgios, but he’s the best chance the Americans have. Scoop, you think Kyrgios was satiated by beating Izzie? I doubt it. Izzie is no longer an elite player.

    I saw Sock v Kyrgios at the Garden a month ago, and granted it was an exbo, but still there was some juice between the two and NK pulled out the breaker. I think Sock very badly wants to beat NK and he may think with his age advantage he can do it.

  • Bryan · April 8, 2017 at 6:08 pm

    Awful showing by USA. No excuse for Sock to lose that tie. I turned it off after Isner lost 1st set to Kyrgios as it was late and I saw it’s a waste of time.

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 8, 2017 at 6:28 pm

    Kyrgios survived Isner and Yes I do think Kyrgios is relieved and pleased with that win because Isner is always a tough out – The scoreline shows the difference was one or two points each set – Another fine valuable win for NK Rising –

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 8, 2017 at 6:31 pm

    Andrew: Do you recall seeing Querrey choke and lose to Ward in San Diego? That terrible loss haunts Courier to this day and Courier has trouble trusting Querrey to be put in such a pressure cooker situation again – I just can’t see Courier calling on Querrey to face Nick – That loss by Q to Ward was a disaster and it showed Querrey can’t be relied on in Davis Cup pressure cooker situations – Hope Querrey proves his doubters wrong and prevails vs Nick – I would love to be proven wrong –

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 8, 2017 at 6:33 pm

    Sock is also suspect because he lost the fifth rubber vs Coric in five sets last year in Portland – SO that is an extra inspiration for Sock to prove he can be a Davis Cup hero which he has not done yet in his career – this is the perfect opportunity for Sock to be a Davis Cup hero –

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 8, 2017 at 7:06 pm

    Sock’s intensity in the fifth set of the dubs is off the charts – If only he can generate this kind of super intensity for big singles showdowns he’d win a big title – Also Sock and Johnson are both unleashing huge backhand winners and set ups – Anyone who discredits Sock or Johnson’s backhands please watch the fifth set of this doubles vs Australia –

  • Dan Markowitz · April 8, 2017 at 10:34 pm

    Scoop,

    SteveJo does not have a good backhand. Peers hit like a 85 mph second serve with no zip when SteveJ hit a winner off his backhand, but he hit it inside out. He has a lot of problems passing opponents cross court with his backhand.

  • Andrew Miller · April 9, 2017 at 2:45 am

    Well Querrey got routed. Sock had to win his first match to get the fourth rubber, and Courier felt ten sets was enough for Sock. So much for this year’s underwhelming Davis cup effort down goes USA.

  • Dan Markowitz · April 9, 2017 at 6:30 am

    Wonder why Courier went with Qball? Really stunning decision. Yes, Qball might’ve beaten NK in Acapulco a month ago, but that was 2 out of3 sets and Qball is not a good 6th man type. If he has momentum and confidence he can beat anyone 2 out of 3, but we’ve seen in slams, albeit Wimbledon where he beat Djoko, that the guy doesn’t have what it takes.

    Granted, Sock has been pretty blasé in 3 out of 5 set matches too, but you’ve got to go with Sock over Qball. I mean that isn’t really a choice at all and if I were Sock I would’ve pulled a Matt Harvey and when Courier came to tell me he was going with Qball, I would’ve said, No Way, Coach, I’m your guy for this match. This is a match Sock had to play. It was the biggest of his career up to date and you’ve got to go out and play that match. The guy is 24. How old was Sampras when he won all three matches in Russia on red clay in Davis Cup. This was Sock’s historic moment and he let Courier sub Qball in for him?! It’s not like Courier was subbing himself or Agassi in for him, the way I imagine it was Gullicksen who was Davis Cup coach when Sampras had his historic DCup and probably Courier, Agassi or Chang or two of the three were possible choices to sub in for Sampras against Kafelnikov.

  • Dan Markowitz · April 9, 2017 at 6:38 am

    Lo and behold, Sampras was also 24 when he had his epic Davis Cup victory in Russia in 1995 and Gullikson, who was the captain, said about Sampras:

    The great players have a sense of history. . . . “When the great players go down in the history books, not only will they be remembered by Grand Slam singles titles but how many times did they help their country win the Davis Cup. . . . It’s a special thing, it’s a team thing.”

    I guess this won’t be said about Sock. He had his moment and he punted instead of received the kick and ran 90 years for a game-winning touchdown in the Super Bowl.

  • Hartt · April 9, 2017 at 7:46 am

    Was just catching up on tennis news so did not know Querrey played vs Kyrgios instead of Sock. That was a shocker. Despite his earlier win over Nick, Sam is not a guy I would choose to play a big match if there was a viable alternative. But beating Nick in his current form was a huge task for anyone. Still, I think Sock would have stood a better chance, after his loss to Thompson his pride was at stake and he is simply a better player than Querrey.

  • Scoop malinowski · April 9, 2017 at 7:56 am

    What you dont realize is Sock is closer friends w Nick than Q. Sock really didnt want to play Nick yesterday. Q was called to action and was cannon fodder. Sam lacks the intensity and fire and fury for a pressure cooker Davis Cup battle. Even his own teammates looked like they knew Sam had no chance. No spirit no enthusiasm.

  • Hartt · April 9, 2017 at 8:46 am

    Friends or not, Sock is a competitor and should relish the chance to play a big match like that. If he did not want to play, for whatever reason, that would be a huge disappointment. I hope it was more that Courier simply made a strange choice.

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 9, 2017 at 9:35 am

    Hartt; Just a theory based on observations and info but I stand by it: I think Sock passed on the chance to play his pal Nick just like Nick opted out of the tie last year vs USA with a supposed injury – Courier is very intelligent and he knows first hand Querrey is unreliable in Davis Cup pressure cooker situations – I know asking Sock to play three straight days is a lot but it has been done before notably Ivan Ljubicic vs USA –

  • Andrew Miller · April 9, 2017 at 10:03 am

    Sock isn’t Sampras. Kyrgios is more in that line. Sock so far is more like Fish. Playing Querrey is fine. Kyrgios beat everyone easily. And he would have beaten Sock also. Team USA’s strategy had to be win the Sock Thompson match, the dubs, and the reverse singles against Thompson or Groth.
    This is Sock’s fault. Just as Isner lost to the UK two years ago and doomed Team USA, Sock losing the “count this as a win” match doomed them this time.

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 9, 2017 at 10:15 am

    Sock losing to Thompson was devastating but Thompson is not a chump. He has beaten Ferrer this year and also played two close three setters with the red hot Nishioka in Acapulco and Key Biscayne which was an incredible tennis display by both. Sock was heroic in the doubles win. Sam just does not have the bulldog intensity and ferocity that is needed for Davis Cup. He choked that terrible loss to James Ward on home turf in San Diego and asking Querrey to take on the far superior Kyrgios IN AUSTRALIA was an impossible ask by Courier. Johnson probably would have been the better option than Querrey. Did you notice the total lack of spirit and enthusiasm on the US bench even in the first set when Querrey was ahead? It was as if the team knew deep down that Querrey had no chance of winning despite being up 3-0 in the first set. I like Querrey a lot as a player at the less pressure events or when he’s a big underdog in GSs but in Davis Cup he’s a bad fit.

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 9, 2017 at 10:19 am

    Kyrgios is arguably the unofficial no 2 player in the world right now. Roger Federer is clearly the best player in the world winning all the big events. But Kyrgios is neck and neck level wise with Federer (as he showed in Key Biscayne). USA got a tough draw in having to face a red hot Kyrgios and a fired up Hewitt crew down under in Australia. The fact that USA managed to be so competitive and produce a near winning effort is a good sign for next year’s Davis Cup bid. I just wish Querrey could tap into his deep down beast mode and let it out in Davis Cup.

  • Hartt · April 9, 2017 at 12:34 pm

    I imagine a lot of players play all 3 days in DC. Vasek Pospisil has done it several times, Murray has done it. I don’t follow the other countries closely enough to know which other players have played all 3 days but suspect there are many.

  • Andrew Miller · April 9, 2017 at 1:02 pm

    “Hewitt d. USA, again”. US squad falls to superior coaching, backhands in a lopsided loss. A lot to think about this tie, US brought a squad that had a lot going for it. On paper this looked like a narrow team USA win, 3-2. Instead, table is turned, Kyrgios wins both his singles matches in straight sets. Sock loses to his own expectations, shows unexpected cracks in his psyche, makes Kyrgios, noted loudmouth, look like a statesman.
    Embarrassing outing.

1 2

<<

>>

Find it!

Copyright 2010
Tennis-Prose.com
To top