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U.S. qualifies for Davis Cup Finals Final 8 in Malaga, Spain
Turned out it was Group D as in Dutch this week in Glasgow, as the Netherlands beat the U.S. on Saturday to advance to the Davis Cup Final 8 as the top seed out of the four-nation Group in Scotland.
Coincidentally, it was an earlier Dutch victory—2-1 over Great Britain on Friday night—that also sent the American team through to the same Final 8, a knockout-style quarterfinal bracket that will crown this year’s Davis Cup champion November 22-27 in Malaga, Spain.
With both nations already qualified for the Final 8, the Netherlands’ victory over the U.S. means the Dutch will play their quarterfinal tie against the loser of Australia vs. Germany, the two nations advancing out of Group C that are playing on Sunday in Hamburg for seeding in Malaga.
It also means the Americans are likely destined for a quarterfinal matchup vs. Italy, who is projected to finish atop Group A. Italy also finishes Group Stage play on Sunday vs. Sweden in Bologna.
The U.S. will play its quarterfinal tie in Malaga on Thursday, Nov. 24–Thanksgiving Day–beginning at 10 a.m. Central European Time, or 4 a.m. ET.
“Obviously it would have been nice to finish top of the group, but there’s a lot of tough teams in Malaga regardless,” said Bob Bryan, who served as acting captain for the U.S. in place of Mardy Fish, who couldn’t make the trip while recovering from COVID-19.
“I’m proud of the fellas for the way they competed this week. This was a very tough group here, especially with (Great Britain) having all those fans. But I’m very impressed with the Netherlands team. They got a great doubles team and they have two fantastic young singles players that can beat anyone on this surface. Our guys I thought competed hard, but it was just too good by the Dutch.
"The guys will get some rest – it’s been a long summer, and we’ll go home and get ready for the big one.”
- Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images
- Photo by Pedro Salado/Quality Sport Images/Kosmos Tennis
- Photo by Pedro Salado/Quality Sport Images/Kosmos Tennis
The Dutch duo of Tallon Griekspoor and Botic van de Zandschulp performed to their highest levels on the plodding hard court inside Glasgow’s Emirates Arena to win their singles matches in straight sets and clinch the Dutch victory.
The 48th-ranked Griekspoor went in ‘god mode,’ according to Tommy Paul, who Griekspoor defeated for the second time this year on Saturday, 7-5, 7-6(3). Griekspoor hit 17 forehand winners to Paul’s nine and held on all 12 of his service games.
Van de Zandschulp, the 2021 US Open quarterfinalist now ranked No. 35, also used his serve—11 aces and 10 of 11 service games won—and his backhand to the tune of eight backhand winners to get the best of Taylor Fritz, 6-4, 7-6(3), to finish 3-0 in singles in Glasgow.
"I’ve been watching singles on TV a lot the last couple of years since I’ve been retired, and it’s impressive how hard guys are hitting balls," Bryan said. "How consistent they are and how great of athletes all these guys are. They’re sliding around the court. The drop shots the Dutch guys had today were phenomenal, and they serve-volleyed in the big moments. They played fearless.
"Tommy went toe-to-toe with them, though. That could have gone either way. There was a break-point let-cord that he missed by an inch. And then Taylor just missed a couple of serves when it counted. I’m happy with how everyone did. I’m proud of our team."
Jack Sock and Rajeev Ram earned a point against the Dutch with a 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-4, victory over Wesley Koolof and Matwe Middelkoop. The American doubles pair went 2-1 in Glasgow to improve their Davis Cup record together to 4-1.
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