Country Cups (Davis Cup, Fed/BJK Cup)

[ponchi101]

No, c'mon. That is one (or several) steps too far.
Yes, he is a fine player. He is also like 75 yo.
And, for some people, playing two top single players will always be better than playing a top doubles team. Yes, it shows lack of respect for the doubles players, but, there is a reason why they can't crack the ATP in singles.

[ashkor87]

As I said, hope not..

[ashkor87]

Still, strange decision...Shelton had just played a hard-fought singles match, must have been tired..and Ram/Krajicek just won the silver at the Olympics..it is not as if Ram is over the hill!

[ti-amie]

I was surprised they didn't use Ram/Krajicek to be honest. Shelton played a really tough singles match and there was no way he could've been ready to play doubles. I saw like two minutes and Paul looked so tentative out there I didn't bother to watch feeling the other team would win.

Bryan made a statement about why he chose those two to play. I'll see if I can find it again.

[ti-amie]

This was the TB Shelton played vs Kokkinakis scoreline.



Then he was asked to play doubles.

[ti-amie]

Bob Bryan.

“We had great options for doubles but I opted for the fire power of the singles players to surprise them. It was a match up decision”.

“I decided in the 15 minutes between the singles and the doubles match. The idea was to surprise them.”

Says he doesn’t regret.

[ti-amie]

What fire power could Shelton have had left after that brutal singles match?

[Suliso]

It worked out for Italy, but not US. Easy to second guess.

[ashkor87]

It worked out for Italy, but not US. Easy to second guess.

Italy had Sinner and Berretini .not Shelton and Paul. Hardly the same decision

[Suliso]

Sinner just as dominant here. Will be surprising if Italy doesn't repeat.

[mick1303]

Repeat DC wins will be already considered "a dynasty" )

[ashkor87]

Sinner just as dominant here. Will be surprising if Italy doesn't repeat.

With the abbreviated format, a team can win the DC with one great player..

[ashkor87]

Italy looks like winning both the BJK and Davis Cup! Incredible! Awesome!
Can't remember off the top of my head when it last happened .Canada came close last year ..

[mick1303]

last time Russia in 2021. Before that Czechs in 2012. Before that - US in 1990... Not often

[Suliso]

As expected Sinner adds Davis Cup to his 2024 title collection.

An interesting statistical fact - all of his 6 defeats this year took the max amount of sets (5 at Wimbledon and RG, 3 at IW, MC, Canada and Beijing).