U.S. Men, Quads Make Winning Start at World Team Cup

Team USA made a near-perfect start in Sardinia on the first day of the 2021 BNP Paribas World Team Cup on Monday as the men's and quad teams picked up round-robin wins behind a 5-1 overall record. 

Led by Casey Ratzlaff and Conner Stroud, the U.S. men's team defeated Israel in its first round-robin match in Group 2, 2-1. Stroud defeated Guy Sasson in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, while Ratzlaff edged Adam Berdichevsky in three to seal the tie, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2. Stroud and Chris Herman were later beaten in doubles by Sergei Lysov and Asi Stokol in a deciding match tiebreak, 2-6. 6-2, [11-9]. 

It was a dominant day in the quads for Team USA as the trio of Bryan Barten, Nick Taylor and David Wagner earned a 3-0 sweep against Canada in Group B. Taylor picked up two victories, first beating Mitch McIntyre in singles, 6-3, 6-2, before partnering Barten to a 6-1, 6-2 win over McIntyre and Robert Shaw. In between, Wagner came from a set down to beat Shaw in singles, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2. It was the first match between the two players since Shaw claimed his first career win over Wagner to win the gold medal at the 2019 Parapan American Games.

On Day 2, the women's squad of Shelby Baron, Dana Mathewson and Emmy Kaiser will begin their tournament in group play against Colombia, while the quad and men's team are back in action for their second round-robin matches. The quad team takes on Brazil, who were victorious against 2019 champions Japan on Day 1, while the men's team takes on Spain. 

The flagship national team competition of wheelchair tennis runs through Oct. 3, and Team USA is competing in all four disciplines: men's, women's, quads and juniors. The event was not held in 2020 due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Team USA at the 2021 World Team Cup - Round Robin Draws

Men's Group 2: USA, Israel, Spain and Chile

Women's Group 4: USA, Colombia and France

Quad Group B: USA, Canada, Brazil and Japan