For the second consecutive year, the U.S. men’s wheelchair tennis team defeated Chile, 2-0, in the championship match at the BNP Paribas World Team Cup Qualification event to secure its spot in the BNP Paribas World Team Cup final, the wheelchair tennis equivalent of Davis Cup and Fed Cup. 

 

Seven teams from five countries battled it out on the courts of the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Fla., from Jan. 29-Feb. 1, to vie for a spot in the final of the world’s preeminent wheelchair tennis team competition. The 2019 BNP Paribas World Team Cup will be held in Tel Aviv, Israel, from May 13-18.

 

The players competing for Team USA in the qualifying event were Wichita State sophomore Casey Ratzlaff, University of Alabama freshman Conner Stroud and Jason Keatseangslip from Tucson, Ariz.  

 

Stroud, a three-time junior World Team Cup champion, had a strong showing in the men’s division, notching back-to-back straight-set wins in his two singles rubbers. 

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In the final, Stroud, the current world No. 60, defeated Chile’s Jaime Sepulveda, 6-1, 6-1, in the opening singles match to give Team USA a 1-0 lead. Ratzlaff then secured the U.S.’s spot in the final with a 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 win over Chile’s Alexander Cataldo. A year ago, Ratzlaff also earned a three-set win over Cataldo to help the team qualify. 

 

“I couldn't be prouder of this group of young men,” said Team USA Head Coach Jason Harnett. “Casey proved to be a formidable No. 1 for us, and Conner simply was dominant at the No. 2 position. Jason embraced his role all week and was a tremendous asset to our team and has a terrific future. [It’s been] a wonderful week that should provide great momentum going into the final.”

 

Follow wheelchair tennis action on Facebook at USTA Wheelchair Tennis. 

 

_{Pictured above (left to right): Casey Ratzlaff, Conner Stroud, Jason Harnett and Jason Keatseangslip. (Photo Credit: Joanne Wallen)}