It is said over and over again: the key to this new Davis that was born in 2019 is none other than the luck of the doubles, lord judge of the new format that, starting in 2019, a turning point with the emergence of the footballer Gerard Piqué, acquired a competition that sought to enhance emotion and energize the old series. Instead of five duels, three, which multiplied the importance of the last turn and the pairs modality began to have a higher importance. And so it happens. Just take a look at the five editions that have passed since then and the data is conclusive; Not in vain, twenty-one of the thirty-two qualifying rounds (65.6%) have been decided in this way, due to the fight between the duos, as happened in this Thursday’s match between the two world superpowers, Australia and the United States.
The first prevailed, 2-1. And on everyone’s lips, one name, that of Bob Bryan, one of the two pieces that made up the best tennis combo of all time. He and Mike, the brothers, the two North American prodigies who won 119 titles hand in hand, 16 of them major titles; owners of number one too. The fact is that now everyone looks at Bob, who has plenty of knowledge and experience, but this time his sense of smell betrayed him. “It was a last minute decision and I don’t regret it. “I was hoping to surprise the Australians, but in the end they rose to the occasion,” he conveys after his disputed choice, when he opted for two typical singles players instead of the contrasting tandem formed by Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram, those who they ended up with another failed experiment, the Nadalcarazthis summer at the Paris Games.
“In front was Jordan Thompson [campeón del US Open y finalista en Wimbledon, un doblista consumado] and also Matthew Ebden [oro en los últimos Juegos]. They have both seen Austin and Rajeev play many times, but not so much Ben and Tommy. It was a tactical maneuver to try to surprise them. We tried until the end, but they were tougher,” reasons the American captain, who has backfired and, consequently, is saying goodbye to the competition also quickly, like Spain, eliminated in the third game by Netherlands. “We know the importance of doubles,” stressed Ferrer, who associated Alcaraz, who is still taking his first steps in the specialty, with the extensive skill of Marcel Granollers. The Spanish formula did not work on Tuesday either.
So far, three of the four matches that have taken place this week at the Martín Carpena in Málaga have been decided in this way. It happened with Spain and also in the Italy-Argentina, defined by Jannik Sinner and Matteo Berretini (6-4 and 7-5 to Máximo González and Andrés Molteni); Not so in Germany-Canada, resolved by the former without the need for heads or tails, the latter case of the United States, which maintains a fierce struggle with Australia for the historical throne (32-28). Paul and Shelton couldn’t beat the Oceanians and the previous victory of Taylor Fritz (6-3 and 6-4 against Alex de Minaur) was of little use to neutralize the opponent’s initial advantage, 6-1, 4-6 and 7- 6 (14) from Thanasi Kokkinakis to Shelton. Bryan’s block was left out and the last victory decorated with stars and stripes dates back to 2007, with Patrick McEnroe on the bench.
The Sinner-Berrettini works
Then it was the Bryan brothers, precisely, who decided the final against Russia (4-1). In the event that took place in Portland, Bob lost in the individual turn against Igor Andreev, but had previously certified the decisive 3-0 with Mike. Today, the former’s strategy is questioned. “As a captain, you have to make difficult decisions, but there was a lot of information behind this decision. We have been here for six days training, we know how all the players feel and we know a lot about our rivals, especially those we face,” says the Californian coach; “Everything we do is based on analysis, we talk to other coaches and players; Fortunately, my brother is here, as well as other excellent advisors. We met and decided that, knowing that we were walking on a very fine line. But, as I said, I have no regrets.”
It will be Australia, therefore, that competes on Saturday (1:00 p.m.) in the semifinals against the Italians, as a repeat of the final from a year ago. Lleyton Hewitt’s boys, outclassed at the time, reached the penultimate round of the tournament for the third consecutive time and are definitely showing their teeth, in the same way as the azzurri they rise on the back of the intractable Sinner. The number one intervened twice. From the outset, he compensated for the fall of Lorenzo Musetti (6-4 and 6-1 with Francisco Cerúndolo) with his victory against Sebastian Báez (6-2 and 6-1), and then he teamed up with Matteo Berrettini to sign the pass shortly before at eleven at night. In line with what his American counterpart opted for, Filippo Volandri renounced the specialists, Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori, and opted for an alliance between two tennis players of ample individual quality who mixed well.
In the opposite direction, the Italian captain responded wonderfully to his pairing. Sinner continued the magnificent tone of these times and Berrettini, torpedoed by injuries when he once became one of the references of the circuit, recovered the brilliance of other times. “It is not an easy decision for the captain because there are many good players. “I am very proud of myself,” said the Roman, delighted to be alongside the fittest tennis player of the moment; actually, the entire course. That of San Candido also expressed himself: “There were very good options. We have a doubles, incredible, but I felt good physically after the first game. It has been your decision. But this can change every day…”
