By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Friday, September 13, 2024
"It means a lot," said Brandon Nakashima after scoring the win that clinched the USA's return dot he Davis Cup Final 8.
Photo credit: Zhe Ji/Getty for ITF
Unsung Americans hit high notes sending the United States back to the Davis Cup quarterfinals.
Brandon Nakashima swept Jozef Kovalik 6-3, 6-3 clinching the United States’ return to the Davis Cup Final 8 with a 3-0 win over Slovakia in Zhuhai today.
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Mackenzie McDonald opened the tie with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Slovakia’s Lukas Klein staking the U.S. to a 1-0 lead.
The Americans closed today’s tie riding a real high.
Olympic doubles silver medalist Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram streaked through 15 of the last 16 points rallying past Norbert Gombos and Klein 6-7(4), 7-6(4), 10-1 in the finale.
Team USA secured its spot in the Davis Cup Final 8 set for November 19-24 in Malaga, Spain.
The victory sends the Americans and Germany to the Final 8 out of Group C. The USA plays its final Group C tie against Germany on Saturday at 2 a.m. ET, with seeding implications for Malaga on the line.
Tennis Channel will televise the tie in the U.S., and lineups will be set one hour before match time.
Captain Bob Bryan’s crew of Nakashima, McDonald, Reilly Opelka, Krajicek and Ram each contribute throughout the week in Zhuhai in a performance that spotlights the depth of American tennis.
The United States qualified for the quarterfinals despite competing without its five Top 20 stars—US Open finalist Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul, Sebastian Korda, Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton—posting pressure-packed 3-0 opening win over Chile on Tuesday in which all three matches were decided in dramatic third-set tiebreakers.
"Feels great. We came oh-so-close last year in Croatia, and all those guys were in the locker room after the match, they were really disappointed," Captain Bob Bryan said. "But we all said that we were gonna fight back and put this at the top of the goal list for 2024.
"Happy that these guys came out here and took care of business. They played well. They competed hard. They didn’t give away any free points. The bench brought energy, and just super proud of how much heart this team has."
It’s an important step forward for the U.S., which failed to qualify for the 2023 quarterfinals.
“It means a lot,” said Nakashima, who made his Davis Cup debut on Tuesday. “I know last year the guys missed out on that spot by a little bit. To be able to be in this position right now, to be clinching that spot, it’s very important for us.
“And I’m just proud of all the guys on the team.”
World No. 40 Nakashima has played some of his most declarative tennis this summer. Known for his imposing two-handed backhand, Nakashima has developed the mid-court forehand weapon and strengthened his serve.
Today, Nakashima slammed eight aces against one double fault and did not face a break point. Nakashima is currently seventh on the ATP Tour in service games won in 2024.
It was Nakashima’s 11th win in his last 14 matches, including victories over Fritz, Paul, Holger Rune and Lorenzo Musetti en route to a US Open fourth-round appearance where he fell to Alexander Zverev.
"It was a great performance," Nakashima said. "I think I played really well right from the beginning and capitalized on the break points that I had, so I’m very happy to get a win for the team.
"It was a very good match from my side. Tough conditions out there but I think I played really well. Served well pretty much the whole match."
Playing in Zhuhai was a homecoming of sorts for McDonald, who feasted on the experience posting his third Davis Cup win.
“I’m actually really proud of myself for performing well today and putting the team on the board,” McDonald said. “It means a lot to me."
The flat-hitting McDonald played much of this match from the front foot asserting his game.
"It felt like I was going for my shots," McDonald said. "These courts are pretty fast. They’re really good for my game. I took it to him and didn’t really get off the gas pedal.
“I love it in China. I feel like the fans treat me so well. I love Chinese food. My grandparents, on my mom’s side, are actually from this region so yeah it’s kind of home.”
In November, the U.S. will play for a record-extending 33rd Davis Cup championship—and first since the Bryan brothers, Andy Roddick and James Blake led Team USA to a 4-1 win over Russia in the 2007 Davis Cup final staged in Portland.
Davis Cup Finals -- Group Stage Group C -- USA, Chile, Germany, Slovakia
Hengqin International Tennis Center (indoor hard court)
Zhuhai, China
USA 3. Slovakia 0
Mackenzie McDonald (USA) d. Lukas Klein (SVK), 6-4, 6-3
Brandon Nakashima (USA) d. Jozef Kovalik (SVK), 6-3, 6-3
Austin Krajicek/Rajeev Ram (USA) d. Klein/Norbert Gombos (SVK), 6-7(4), 7-6(4) [10-1]