John Isner and Sam Groth will contest the first singles match of this weekend’s opening-round Davis Cup tie between the United States and Australia on the grass courts of Kooyong. The second rubber will pit Jack Sock against Bernard Tomic.
John Isner (USA) vs. Sam Groth (USA)
It will be a huge-serving affair when Isner and Groth go head-to-head for the first time in their careers during Davis Cup action at the Kooyong Club in Melbourne, Australia on Friday afternoon. With home-court advantage, the Aussies have chosen to play the tie on grass. That surface should favor Groth, who reached the third round of Wimbledon last summer and took a set off eventual runner-up Roger Federer. The 77th-ranked Australian, however, has been a disaster in 2016. His singles record stands at 1-6 at the ATP level and he is currently riding a five-match losing streak (one Challenger setback included) dating back to round two of the Aussie Open.
Traditionally a slow starter every year, Isner has once again slumped through January and February. The 11th-ranked American made a run to the last 16 in Melbourne but has managed to win just a single match at his three other tournaments combined. An ill-advised foray to the Golden Swing resulted in nothing more than losses to Dusan Lajovic in Buenos Aires and Guido Pella in Rio de Janeiro–both from match point up. While clay is not ideal for Isner, grass is even worse because he has to hit balls too low in his strike zone and his kick serve is less effective. This is a great opportunity for Groth, who got the nod on Thursday after Nick Kyrgios was ruled out due to a back injury and a virus.
Pick: Groth in 5
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Jack Sock (USA) vs. Bernard Tomic (AUS)
Sock and Tomic will be squaring off for the fourth time in their careers on Friday. All three of their previous encounters have gone Sock’s way. The 23-year-old American won indoors in Stockholm via a 6-4, 6-2 decision three seasons ago before getting the job done twice in 2014; 7-6(4), 6-7(4), 6-4 in Shanghai and 6-2, 6-4 in Paris qualifying a few weeks later.
A number of factors including current form, home-court advantage, and the grass-court surface should help Tomic turn the tide. The 23-year-old Australian is coming off a runner-up performance in Acapulco and will make a quick transition from hard courts to grass. But he will have had plenty of practice days by the time he contests this match and has always been comfortable on the slick stuff. Tomic is a former Wimbledon quarterfinalist (2011) and he advanced to the last 16 in 2013. Sock, who does his best work on hards, is a modest 5-3 on the season and has not won a match since round one of the Australian Open.
Pick: Tomic in 4
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who ya got?
Agree with Ricky:
Groth in 5.
Tomic in 4
Australia too strong and better on grass at home.
I’m taking big john in four and Tomic in four though I was tempted to take sock in four because of their head to head. Still Tomic is superior in form right now and should use some home court advantage to get the W relatively comfortably. Groth likes grass a lot while Isner doesn’t so much but I don’t think Groth is playing well enough. The crowd could turn the tide though. These are honestly tough picks for me to decide on. I could easily see it going sock and Groth winning or Isner and sock or Groth and Tomic but my picks are Tomic and Isner. Tomic in four set and Isner in four sets.
I’m ready for anything with these though. In the back of my mind Australia has an edge in both of these but I’m feeling a win for big john as well. Really excited for this tie. Obviously I want USA to go far and same with Australia though. So I basically would like to see winner of this match take title. I feel like Australia will find a way like 3-1 or 3-2 but we’ll see. Like I said my picks are big John in 4 and Tomic in 4 but I’m hesitant with this tie at the moment. We’ll just have to see.
Isner and Sock in 4
Possible but with home crowd for Australia at least one Aussie will probably win on day one.
http://www.smh.com.au/sport/tennis/davis-cup-lleyton-hewitt-replaces-nick-kyrgios-for-us-clash-20160302-gn93np.html
Rusty wants to play.
he wont
Wrong
Do we know the outcome of the scan Kyrgios was due to have. Did it happen? If so there has been a news blackout on the subject. The emphasis is all on the mysterious virus illness.
i don’t. and yes, very MYSTERIOUS.
#VeryMiskyrgios
#FootInMouthDisease
Hewitt should not even be considering the possibility of playing, let alone talking about it.
i don’t think he is
His exact words were “No chance.”
Hope this helps.
Told ya so. He is playing.
and it was a POOR decision
U can say that again. I would’ve understood more if Lleyton went to singles because Groth may have done poorly there but he’s a big server who could’ve helped out more in doubles. Before this match I thought Bryans will win in four but it looks like straight sets right now. Then again I just now looked at live scores and saw Hewitt is playing. Still would’ve kept Bryans in four as my pick though. What’s next? Is Rusty gonna put John Peers in for singles?
Ok maybe not such a bad decision after all? If rusty finds a way to come back and win then the Aussies should win the tie. Honestly I want USA to win of course but I think it would be so sick of Hewitt won from behind like that.
Sure about that?
If he is not thinking about it, why discus the subject publicly. A large proportion of the press rose to the bait. As I said yesterday, there is already too much bluff and double bluff even by DC standards.
Hewitt’s own statement after the announcement of the teams was a masterclass in obscuration.