Written by Richard Pagliaro | @Itenisi_Manje | Sunday, November 17, 2024
Photo credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty for the Laver Cup
Taylor Fritz made a big mark on American tennis in Turin.
US Open winner Fritz will lead the American Davis Cup campaign in Malaga.
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Fifth-seeded Fritz, who became the first American to compete in the ATP Finals since then James Blake in 2006, will try to lead Team USA to its first Davis Cup tournament since 2007 in Malaga, Spain next week.
After his 6-4, 6-4 loss to world No. 1 Jannik Sinner at the ATP Finals, Fritz confirmed that he is heading to Malaga with a job in mind.
“I will go to the Davis Cup,” Fritz told the media in Turin. “I think they want me to practice tomorrow, I said it won’t happen (smiling).
“I think I need a day off. Yes, I would like to just go home. All the players, we got together and said, We have a really strong team, let’s try our best, try to win this thing. .”
US Davis Cup captain Bob Bryan so called Fritz, Tommy Paul, Ben Shelton, Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek in the 2024 Davis Cup Final 8 team, which will be played on November 19-24 at the Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena Arena in Malaga, Spain.
The United States will face Australia in the quarterfinal match between two of the most successful Davis Cup teams in history.
The USA is playing for its record-extending 33rd Davis Cup title and first Davis Cup title since 2007 when it beat Russia in the final in Portland, Oregon.
Australia’s 28-time Davis Cup champion finished second in Italy last year. Captain Lleyton Hewitt’s team is playing for its first Davis Cup tournament since 2003.
“I’m not going to do that to the boys,” Fritz said of his commitment to his teammates. “I have to go out and do my best with them. I will come tomorrow.”
