The rematch of last year’s Davis Cup first round between the United States and Great Britain will begin on Friday in Glasgow, Scotland. Andy Murray is kicking off the tie against familiar foe Donald Young.
Donald Young (USA) vs. Andy Murray (GBR)
Murray and Young will be squaring off for the fifth time in their careers when they collide in the first rubber of an opening-round Davis Cup tie between Great Britain and the United States on Friday in Glasgow, Scotland. They most recently faced each other in this same situation last year, except Team USA had home-court advantage on the clay of San Diego. Murray dominated Young 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 to take a 3-1 lead in the head-to-head series and help the visitors ultimately advance to the quarterfinals. The two-time Grand Slam champion has won three in a row at Young’s expense since the American pulled off an upset at the 2011 Indian Wells Masters.
Both men are heading into this match with 10 victories for the season–impressive by Young’s standards but a bit of a disappointment for Murray. Young secured his spot on the Davis Cup team by reaching the Memphis semifinals and the Delray Beach title match. Murray was bounced out of consecutive quarterfinals in Rotterdam and Dubai after losing to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final. The fourth-ranked Scot should be able to turn things around in front of his home fans against an opponent who has not appeared in Davis Cup outside of that one 2014 loss to Murray.
Pick: Murray in 3
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John Isner (USA) vs. James Ward (GBR)
While Murray won two singles rubbers to send the United States packing last season, it was really Ward who played the hero role. His 1-6, 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory over Sam Querrey effectively made the difference in Great Britain’s favor. Ward is toiling down at No. 111 in the world right now, but he is a solid 9-7 lifetime in Davis Cup action (all in singles, although most of his results have come in Group II competition).
The only previous official meeting between Ward and Isner came six years ago at the Savannah Challenger, where the 6’10” American prevailed 7-6(4), 7-5. They also faced each other two months ago at the Kooying Classic, an exhibition event at which Ward earned a 3-6, 7-6(10), 6-2 win. Isner, though, likes bigger stages and especially enjoys either playing in the United States or for the United States. This is a guy who once went into Switzerland and upset Roger Federer in Davis Cup (4-6, 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-2 in the 2012 first round).
Pick: Isner in 4
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