Doubles Could Be Key To US Victory in US Vs. Serbia Davis Cup Tie

Written by: Staff on 5th April 2013

Doubles Could Be Key To US Victory in US Vs. Serbia Davis Cup Tie

epa03650244 Bob and Mike Bryan of the US (L) and LLija Bozoljac (Second-R) and Nenad Zimonjic (R) of Serbia pose in front of the draw board for photographs during the 2013 Davis Cup World Group quarter final Draw Ceremony at the historic Boise Depot in Boise, Idaho, USA, 04 April 2013. They will face each other in doubles. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO |

While Novak Djokovic and John Isner’s high profile clash to open the United States versus Serbia Davis Cup quarterfinal might be the attention-grabbing rubber, the key to the weekend might very well be the doubles between the world’s top team of Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan against Nenad Zimonjic and presumably Victor Troicki.

Ilija Bozoljac was named as Zimonjic’s partner, but US captain Jim Courier fully expects Troicki to play doubles with Zimonjic, as they have teamed together successfully before.

The Bryans hold a 21-3 record as a Davis Cup doubles team together but took a disappointing defeat in February to Brazil

With No. 1 Djokovic favored against both Isner and Sam Querrey, the Bryans realize they have some heavy lifting to do.

‘When we lost in Jacksonville we were looking forward to this tie and getting back on the court and hopefully redeeming ourselves,” Bob Bryan said. “Obviously Zimonjic has been playing against us for the last 10, 15 years. He’s a legend. He’s won Grand Slams and been No. 1 in the world. He’s seen it all. He’s played us many times. He’s beaten us and we’ve beaten him on big stages all over the world. We’ll just try to throw in a couple new wrinkles in our strategy to try to throw him off. Probably expect him to do the same. Probably expect Troicki to jump out there. He’s a great ad‑court player, awesome backhand. He’s played in tough finals and he plays doubles every week. He’s not a stranger to the doubles court, so we expect a really tough match.”

The 36-year-old Zimonjic has been a warhorse for Serbia, playing in 43 titles and holding a 26-11 record in doubles. He has played with a number of partners including Djokovic and Bozoljac, but he has never lost a match with Troicki as his partner.

The only time that that the US faced Serbia in 2010, Bob Bryan and Isner bested Zimonjic and Janko Tipsarevic. However, Serbia won the tie 3-2.

“In every tie the doubles is very critical since it’s played second day,” Zimonjic said. “Playing Bob and Mike, it’s definitely the biggest challenge that I will have in my Davis Cup career. It’s going to be difficult. Even though they are favorites, I think we still have a chance in that match. Even though it could be advantage for John or maybe Sam, it could be also advantage for us in the doubles since it’s altitude, since we both ‑ whoever I’m going to play with ‑ we have big serves as well. Could be challenge for them as well. So we’ll definitely try to bring our best there and put them under as much pressure as we can. It helps definitely that I played them many matches in my career and won quite a lot as well. So I think that can be our big thing in this tie.”

If Troicki, who is playing Querrey in the second singles rubber on Friday, is picked it could mean he might have to play three rubbers, which he has never done in the 14 ties he has played.

“Personally, I feel fit and ready to play all three days if I have to,” Troicki said.

©Daily tennis News Wire

Topics: American tennis news, Bob Bryan, Bryan Brothers, Davis Cup, John Isner, Mike Bryan, Novak Djokovic, Serbian tennis news, Sports, Tennis News