The United States leads Brazil 2-0 in the first round of Davis Cup following singles victories by Sam Querrey and John Isner. That means Bob and Mike Bryan can clinch the tie on Saturday, but they face a tough doubles rubber against Marcelo Melo and Bruno Soares.
A 2-0 lead is not a done deal in Davis Cup. Well…it may be when you have arguably the best doubles team in the history of tennis suiting up for the third rubber.
That’s the dream scenario in which Team USA finds itself in between Day 1 and Day 2 of its first-round Davis Cup tie against Brazil. Throw in home-court advantage to boot (in Jacksonville, Florida) and it can be argued that this tie is all but over.
That being said, John Isner and Sam Querrey–both of whom won on Friday and would be overwhelming favorites in live singles rubbers on Sunday–better be prepared. After all, Bob and Mike Bryan have a difficult doubles matchup on their hands for Saturday afternoon. In fact, the established Brazilian duo of Marcelo Melo and Bruno Soares boasts a winning 2-1 lifetime record against the bothers.
The first head-to-head encounter came in Roland Garros in 2010, when Melo and Soares won a second-round showdown 6-3, 7-6(6). The Brazilians prevailed again 7-6(1), 6-3 in the Washington first round during the summer of 2011 before the Bryans got revenge that fall with a 7-6(2), 6-1 victory in the Vienna semifinals. Overall, Bob and Mike are 7-2 lifetime against Soares (all partners included) and 8-3 lifetime against Melo (all partners included).
“We’re very excited,” assured Soares, who is ranked 19th in the world in doubles after a recent triumph in Auckland (with Colin Fleming). “The Davis Cup is very important. It has a different atmosphere. It’s the beginning of the season, so we haven’t played too many matches so far, but it’s very nice that Marcelo won his first tournament and he’s playing really well. And then I also won my first tournament, which gives us something to add up together. We’re playing the Bryans and they are undefeated this season. They just won another Grand Slam, but we know we’re playing well.”
“It’s so great to be a part of this,” added Melo, the No. 16 doubles player in the world who captured his first title earlier this month in Brisbane (with Tommy Robredo). “Bruno and I have been part of the Davis Cup for many years, trying to fight to get here to the World Group. We are grateful to be here, and it’s a pleasure to be in the World Group, playing against the United States.”
The Bryan Brothers, meanwhile, are similarly on top of their games. They just won the Australian Open for their 13th career major title, a new all-time record. What’s scary is that they may be even better in Davis Cup. The Bryans are 20-2 lifetime in doubles rubbers, a record that includes the 2007 title-clinching win against Russia.
“It’s the greatest doubles team of all time,” said Querrey.
Pick: Bryan and Bryan in 4
Classy comments by the Brazilian team…. shows the true spirit of DavisCup!