The host Australians must win each of the reverse singles rubber on Sunday if they want to advance past the United States and reach the Davis Cup quarterfinals. Bernard Tomic is facing John Isner before either Sam Groth or Lleyton Hewitt could meet Jack Sock.
John Isner (USA) vs. Bernard Tomic (AUS)
Isner and Tomic will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers when they contest the first of potentially two live singles rubbers between the United States and Australia on Sunday afternoon. Their only previous meeting came four years ago on the hard courts of Delray Beach, where Isner cruised 6-3, 6-2. The 6’10” American has a chance to send his nation to the Davis Cup quarterfinals, as the visitors lead Australia 2-1 following a five-set doubles victory by Bob and Mike Bryan over Lleyton Hewitt and John Peers.
The tie began with Isner defeating Sam Groth 7-6(2), 6-2, 6-2. Isner battled out of a 0-40 hole midway through the first set and cruised the rest of the way without dropping serve a single time. Tomic answered by picking up a 7-6(2), 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 win over Jack Sock to even the overall score at 1-1. The 20th-ranked Australian successfully made a quick turnaround after finishing runner-up last weekend on the hard courts of Acapulco. This particular grass court is bouncing higher than others for Isner, but any grass court favors Tomic. The 23-year-old is a former Wimbledon quarterfinalist (2011) and he advanced to the last 16 at the All-England Club in 2013. An in-form Tomic should be able to set up a fifth and decisive rubber.
Pick: Tomic in 4
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Jack Sock (USA) vs. Sam Groth (AUS)
If a live fifth rubber comes down to Sock and Groth, they would be facing each other for the second time in their careers. Their only previous showdown came at Wimbledon last summer, when Groth got the job done 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3. Grass gives the big-serving Australian a chance, but he has been bad regardless of surface 2016. Groth is 1-8 overall (one Challenger loss included) and is currently in the midst of a six-match losing streak.
Whereas the world No. 77 got thoroughly trounced by Isner in their last two sets, Sock turned in a decent performance the entire way against Tomic. The 23-year-old American will obviously have a huge edge in this matchup from the baseline, so Groth will have to serve much more effectively than he did against Isner in order to have any prayer of pulling out a win. If Hewitt thinks that is unlikely to happen, he may throw himself into the fire.
Pick if Groth: Sock in 4
Pick if Hewitt: Hewitt in 4
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