Davis Cup previews and predictions: Sock vs. Thompson, Isner vs. Kyrgios

Jack Sock and Jordan Thompson will kick off this week’s Davis Cup quarterfinal tie between the United States and Australia in Brisbane. First-day action will conclude with a showdown featuring John Isner and Nick Kyrgios.

(USA) Jack Sock vs. (AUS) Jordan Thompson

Sock and Thompson will be going head-to-head for the first time in their careers when they battle in Friday’s opening Davis Cup rubber between the United States and Australia on the hard court of Patrick Rafter Arena is Brisbane. It has been an outstanding 2017 campaign so far for Sock, who boasts an 18-4 record with titles in Auckland and Delray Beach. The 15th-ranked American is coming off a semifinal showing in Indian Wells (lost to Roger Federer) and a quarterfinal finish in Miami (lost to Rafael Nadal).

Thompson enjoyed a stellar Australian summer, reaching the quarterfinals in Brisbane, the second round in Sydney and Melbourne, and won Davis Cup rubbers over Jiri Vesely and Jan Satral of the Czech Republic. The world No. 79, however, is a horrendous 2-6 since leaving his home country and that record includes losses in both a Challenger and Acapulco qualifying. Thompson should show signs of regaining his form now that he is back at home, but Sock is playing too well for him at the moment.

Pick: Sock in 3

[polldaddy poll=9718035]

(USA) John Isner vs. (AUS) Nick Kyrgios

Kyrgios is playing the best and most consistent tennis of his career right now and it has him in the early discussion for 2017 World Tour Finals contention. The 16th-ranked Australian is 14-4 this season, including 7-1 dating back to the start of the Indian Wells Masters. He is coming off a semifinal run in Miami, where he ousted Damir Dzumhur, Ivo Karlovic, David Goffin, and Alexander Zverev before succumbing to eventual champion Federer 7-6(7), 6-7(7), 7-6(5) after three hours and 11 minutes.

Friday marks the fourth career contest between Kyrgios and Isner, with the 6’10” American leading the head-to-head series 2-1. Isner got the job done 6-3, 6-7(7), 6-4 at the 2015 Madrid Masters and a few months later via a 7-5, 6-3 decision at the Canada Masters in Kyrgios’ first match after his infamous encounter with Stan Wawrinka. They most recently faced each other in last summer’s Atlanta final, which Kyrgios won 7-6(3), 7-6(4). Isner is a modest 6-6 this year, a record that includes a four-set Davis Cup victory over Henri Laaksonen in Birmingham, Ala. The world No. 23 has fared well against Kyrgios in the past and his serve will make him competitive once again, but the Aussie not only has home-court advantage but also a huge edge in current form.

Pick: Kyrgios in 4

[polldaddy poll=9718038]