By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Sunday, November 17, 2024
Photo credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty for Laver Cup
Taylor Fritz made a major mark for American tennis in Turin.
US Open finalist Fritz will lead the American Davis Cup quest in Malaga.
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The fifth-seeded Fritz, who was the first American to contest the ATP Finals title match since James Blake in 2006, will try to lead Team USA to its first Davis Cup championship since 2007 in Malaga, Spain next week.
In the aftermath of his 6-4, 6-4 loss to world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in today's ATP Finals final, Fritz confirmed he's heading for Malaga with a mission in mind.
"I will be going to Davis Cup," Fritz told the media in Turin. "I think they want me to practice tomorrow. I said it's probably not going to happen (smiling).
"I think I need a day off. Yeah, I would love to just go home. All the players, we came together and we said, We've got a really strong team, let's give our best effort, try to win this thing."
U.S. Davis Cup captain Bob Bryan named Fritz, Tommy Paul, Ben Shelton, Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek to the squad for the 2024 Davis Cup Final 8, to be played November 19-24 at the Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena Arena in Malaga, Spain.
The United States will face Australia in a quarterfinal clash of the two most successful nations in Davis Cup history.
The USA is playing for a record-extending 33rd Davis Cup championship—and first Davis Cup crown since 2007 when it beat Russia in the final staged in Portland, Oregon.
The 28-time Davis Cup champion Australia was runner-up to Italy last year. Captain Lleyton Hewitt’s squad is playing for its first Davis Cup championship since 2003.
"I can't do that to the guys," Fritz said of his commitment to his teammates. "I got to go out and I'm going to give it my best effort with them. I'll be there tomorrow."