Isner Leads USA Into Davis Cup Quarterfinals
In the 46th meeting between the two nations, the United States defeated Australia 3-1 over the weekend to reach the Davis Cup quarterfinals, led by John Isner’s two singles victories, including the clinching one over Bernard Tomic in four sets on Sunday at the Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club in Melbourne, Australia.
The match was all tied up at one heading into the final three matches over the weekend. Bob and Mike Bryan held on for a 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 4-6, 6-3 victory over Lleyton Hewitt and John Peers to pull the Americans within one victory of moving into the Davis Cup final eight.
In Sunday’s first singles match, Isner wasted no time in sealing the deal, and ensured that playing on the grass surface didn’t bother him. He didn’t drop serve in the opening two sets, and despite finally being broken in the third set, won the fourth set in a tiebreaker, clinching the 6-4, 6-4, 5-7, 7-6(4) victory with an ace.
“It was [an] incredible tie for us,” said Isner, who fired 49 aces in the match. “We knew Australia was going to be tough and they put up a great fight.”
“[It’s] breathtaking to watch John serve the way he did,” said U.S. captain Jim Courier. “After the last couple of years, this is massive for us. It was a tough match up on paper and in reality. You can’t take any of these for granted.”
With Isner’s win, the final singles match that was scheduled between Jack Sock and Sam Groth was not played.
The United States will host Croatia in the quarterfinals in mid-July.
Below are the rest of the result’s from this weekend’s Davis Cup action:
â–ºGreat Britain 3, Japan 1
â–ºSerbia 3, Kazakhstan 2
â–ºItaly 5, Switzerland 0
â–ºArgentina 3, Poland 2
â–ºFrance 5, Canada 0
â–ºCzech Republic 3, Germany 2
â–ºCroatia 3, Belgium 2
