Kyrgios Beats Isner to Give Aussies Commanding Davis Cup Lead

April 7, 2017 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff

The United States and Australia are facing off in a Davis Cup World Group Quarterfinal, and the Aussies jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after the first two rubber matches on Friday.

In the first match, Jack Sock of the United States took on the 79th ranked Jordan Thompson, and the Nebraska native struggled to find consistency on his serve throughout the match. He won just 62 percent of his first serve points while being broken four times, including twice in the final set, as Thompson gave Australia the early advantage with a 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-4 victory.

In the second match, Nick Kyrgios took on John Isner, and it was Kyrgios who was able to play his best tennis in the big points. A late break point allowed him to win the opening set, and the following two sets would go into tiebreakers, where Kyrgios was just a hair better than Isner, winning both breakers by a score of 7-5.

“We knew it was going to be tough today,” said Kyrgios. “Jack’s been playing great, John’s been playing great. Jordan set the standard earlier. [It was] an unbelievable performance. He set the tone. I’ve been playing great tennis and wanted to carry it into today and that’s what happened.”

Australia is now one win away from advancing to the semifinals. The third rubber is scheduled to have Sam Groth and Jamie Peers take on Steve Johnson and Sam Querrey, and the final two singles rubbers will see Kyrgios play Sock, and Isner play Thompson. 

The winner moves on to play the winner between Italy and Belgium. 


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Centercourt
USTA NTC

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