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
[polldaddy poll=9334312]
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
[polldaddy poll=9334311]
Previous results on grass mean little… Isner can play on this court. This is a different match-up. Isner is obviously a better server (this is pretty much a serving competition) Isner also has a much better mentality and level of concentration. Isner should win this.
Rusty to take matters into his hands if he has to get the win over Sock in 4.
And agree if Groth plays – it’s Sock over Groth in 4.
Voted Tomic in 5. But can see it in 4. Youth to prevail.
It’s going to be close I hope!
If Bernie wins Rusty will be calling his own number. I knew there was a reason he put himself on the team despite the “Zero” quote about his chance of playing.
Still have doubts about the wisom of Hewitt nominating himself to play. He is understandabiy ambitious for the Ausses to win this round in his first DC as captain. However inserting himself into the fray is tantamount to announcing his lack of faith in the team. He’s trying to ride two horses at once – and running the risk of falling off both horses in the process.
IMO Leon Smith is a good example of how to nurture the talent at his disposal and create a team which in the space of five years came from nowhere to hoisting the Cup for their country
http://www.foxsports.com.au/tennis/ny-times-writer-ben-rothenberg-says-lleyton-hewitt-needs-to-bench-himself-in-davis-cup-reverse-singles/news-story/c639339850e1bcc14d886689e6d807a3
John looked great yesterday, and I think he’ll do it again today….The Big dawg in 3; and I think/hope that Jack can win it if we need it…in 4.
Sock should beat Groth, depending on where Hewitt’s ego is.
I have looked at all the stats and odds for Isner ve Tomic and I don’t know what to think, all seem to be conflicting, very close, it ought to be interesting.
Going with Isner as always!
1st set Tomic v Isner:
Dur.: 0:27
BT AUS USA JI
Aces 4 10
Double Faults 0 0
1st Serve % 18/31(58%) 16/22(72%)
1st Serve Points Won 14/18(77%) 14/16(87%)
2nd Serve % 13/13(100%) 6/6(100%)
2nd Serve Points Won 6/13(46%) 6/6(100%)
Break Points Won 0/0 (0%) 1/1 (100%)
Total Winners 3 11
Forehand Winners 2 4
Backhand Winners 0 1
Net Points Won 1/1(100%) 6/6(100%)
Forced Errors 4 8
Unforced Errors 5 7
Total Points Won 22 31
Fastest 1st Serve 196km/h / 122mph 247km/h / 153mph
Average 1st Serve 167km/h / 104mph 204km/h / 127mph
Fastest 2nd Serve 162km/h / 101mph 188km/h / 117mph
Average 2nd Serve 144km/h / 90mph 177km/h / 110mph
Watching this match on TC. 1st set Bernie’s backhand was missing. John serving light’s out. Bernie shaking his right wrist like something’s wrong with it.
2nd set John slipped and looked like he twisted a knee but he’s fine now. Break chance for John now. Bernie saves it. deuce. Ace. Ad IN Bernie. But forehand error into net. then a df. 2nd bp John. 2nd serve is…good. deuce.Backhand into net Bernie. 3rd bp John. And John gets the break.
Bernie looks like he needs an espresso shot now. And something for his wrist? Maybe. Anyway this is looking good for John. Oh, Bernie getting a wrap on the right wrist now. Lleyton looking on, trying to talk to Bernard.
John Isner will serve for the 2nd set. This isn’t the most exciting match. It’s business as usual for John.
Apparently Lleyton preached it to Bernie on the change-over.
But I get the feeling that if this was an ATP match, Bernie would be done. Lacking energy so far. Ohhhh… botches an easy volley and hands the 2nd set to John. I’ll watch a little of the 3rd but this appears like a done deal.
The stats for John Isner’s serving are worth posting. No wonder Bernie wants this over.
2nd set Stats:
Dur.: 0:32
BT AUS USA JI
Aces 1 6
Double Faults 1 0
1st Serve % 21/31(67%) 17/23(73%)
1st Serve Points Won 16/21(76%) 15/17(88%)
2nd Serve % 9/10(90%) 6/6 (100%)
2nd Serve Points Won 5/9(55%) 5/6 (83%)
Break Points Won 0/0(0%) 1/4(25%)
Total Winners 5 8
Forehand Winners 4 4
Backhand Winners 1 2
Net Points Won 0/0(0%) 2/2(100%)
Forced Errors 7 8
Unforced Errors 8 10
Total Points Won 24 30
Fastest 1st Serve 199km/h / 124mph 224km/h / 139mph
Average 1st Serve 169km/h / 105mph 205km/h / 128mph
Fastest 2nd Serve 160km/h / 100mph 193km/h / 120mph
Average 2nd Serve 146km/h / 91mph 180km/h / 112mph
3rd set is more of the same. But Bernie is serving ahead. Maybe he can hold and at least take it to a tie break? John’s having such a great serving day!
4-4 in the 3rd. Bernie serving…
Made dinner and missed the 3rd set action!
Anyone watching this match?
Tomic got a set and is serving ahead in the 4th set. He has to hold. John is serving so well. B. Haber on TC tells me Isner hit the fastest serve in ATP history in that 3rd set, Really? Have to check those stats! 41 aces for John so far, says Haber.
4-4 on serve. Tomic serving…
Looks like an oven on broil out there.
Really? 157 mph is the fastest serve in the history of the ATP?
3rd set stats:
BT AUS USA JI
Aces 13 43
Double Faults 1 0
1st Serve % 84/117(71%) 83/111(74%)
1st Serve Points Won 71/84(84%) 68/83(81%)
2nd Serve % 32/33(96%) 28/28(100%)
2nd Serve Points Won 18/32(56%) 20/28(71%)
Break Points Won 1/5(20%) 2/5(40%)
Total Winners 23 28
Forehand Winners 13 12
Backhand Winners 67
Net Points Won 4/5 (80%)9/11 (81%)
Forced Errors 24 47
Unforced Errors 20 29
Total Points Won 112 116
Fastest 1st Serve 202km/h / 126mph 253km/h / 157mph
Average 1st Serve 170km/h / 106mph 202km/h / 126mph
Fastest 2nd Serve 163km/h / 101mph 205km/h / 127mph
Average 2nd Serve 145km/h / 90mph 180km/h / 112mph
4-4 in the 4th set tb.
Tomic’s backhand let’s him down and it’s a mini break for Isner.
John 2nd serve has been stellar, impeccable. 6-4 . This is it folks. Ace. USA wins it. 2-1 Merica and in the QF’s!
Congrats again, Hawkstradamus.
Australia was hurting without Kyrgios – that’s what I’m thinking.
Oops. I meant 3-1 USA.
Full match stats here:
http://daviscup.tennis-live-scores.com/scoreboard.html?lang=en
Will play Croatia probably. Hardly a chance with only Goffin holding down the Belgians. He’s missing Darcis.
Yep that’s why I picked da’merks.
it’s not the fastest
Didn’t have my phone all day but I probably would’ve said Tomic in five and sock in 4 or something like that and Hewitt in five if he had played sock. Anyways that’s a huge win for Big John and the U.S. VAMOS!!
I had voted Isner in 3, wasn’t too far off! Go USA! Serving was incredible! He really needed that and so very happy for him and Team USA!
Thanks Ratcliff for all the stats!
Puts Sam’s 1st rubber win in perspective, no?
Too late to wonder ‘what if’ now. But I bet Rusty is asking himself the question.
ed251137 (AT 7:09 AM),
Sam lost.
My bad!!!!!! Are you keeping count of my clangers? ?
Comes from darting between too many matches. I had it in my head he pulled off the upset. Must have been thinking of Tomic outlasting Sock.
Whatever, I still think it was a shame he wasn’t used for the doubles.
ed251137 (AT 9:15 AM),
I read this article. 🙂
“Two times. Two times he’s faked it,” Channel Seven cameras caught Tomic muttering to Hewitt during his loss to Isner. “Two times Nick has faked it. Twice. While I’m here, Nick’s sitting down in Canberra. Bullsh*t he’s sick.”
http://espn.go.com/tennis/story/_/id/14913522/nick-kyrgios-hits-back-tomic-war-words
Hewitt will have his work cut out keeping two of his star players under control.
The loose cannon Nick Kyrgios had this to say:
As Tomic was questioning Kyrgios’s commitment to the competition on Sunday, his absent team-mate was at home in Canberra questioning the credentials of an American journalist who urged Hewitt not to play himself if Australia’s first-round tie with the USA went to a deciding fifth rubber.
Kyrgios defended his first-year Cup captain on Twitter: “Ben Rothenberg could be the worst writer to exist. Sit the fk down mate”. The 20-year-old’s outburst comes less than a fortnight after the expiration of his six-month suspended ban for sledging French Open champion Stan Wawrinka at last year’s Montreal Masters.
Here is the full text of Ben Rotheburg’s article advising Hewitt not to nominate himself:
http://www.foxsports.com.au/tennis/ny-times-writer-ben-rothenberg-says-lleyton-hewitt-needs-to-bench-himself-in-davis-cup-reverse-singles/news-story/c639339850e1bcc14d886689e6d807a3