DAVIS CUP TENNIS: U.S. TEAM CHECKS IN

Written by: Staff on 17th September 2015

DAVIS CUP TENNIS: U.S. TEAM CHECKS IN |

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United States vs. Uzbekistan

Davis Cup by BNP Paribas

2015 World Group Playoff

Olympic Tennis School

Tashkent, Uzbekistan * September 18-20

ORDER OF PLAY

The opening day of play in the best-of-five match series features each country’s No. 1 singles player against the No. 2 player from the opposing country. The exact order of play was determined at Thursday’s Draw Ceremony, which was held at Lotte City Hotel Tashkent Palace.

The second day of competition features the pivotal doubles match. The event concludes Sunday with the “reverse singles,” starting with each country’s No. 1 player squaring off followed by the No. 2 players. Each match is best-of-five-sets until one nation wins three matches and clinches the tie. The remaining matches, if any, are played as best-of-three sets.

DAY/LOCAL MATCH TIME                 EVENT                    DETAILS/PAIRING

Friday, 10:00 a.m.                                   Singles A:                Steve Johnson (USA) vs. Denis Istomin (UZB)

                                  Singles B:                Jack Sock (USA) vs. Farrukh Dustov (UZB)

Saturday, 12:00 p.m.                               Doubles:                  Sam Querrey/Steve Johnson (USA)

                                                                  vs. Denis Istomin/Farrukh Dustov (UZB)

Sunday, 10:00 a.m.                                 Singles C:                Jack Sock (USA) vs. Denis Istomin (UZB)

                                  Singles D:                Steve Johnson (USA) vs. Farrukh Dustov (UZB)

*Team captains may substitute the doubles team up to one hour before the match.

DAY ONE NOTES

The United States will face off against Uzbekistan for the first time ever in the 2015 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group Playoff. The best-of-five match series will be played on an outdoor red clay court at the Olympic Tennis School in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Tomorrow’s singles play will first feature world No. 47 Steve Johnson against world No. 62 Denis Istomin. Johnson will be making his Davis Cup debut, while Istomin will be competing in his 24th Davis Cup tie (he holds a 26-10 singles record in Davis Cup competition). Johnson and Istomin have never met on the ATP World Tour.

In the second match on Friday, world No. 29 Jack Sock and world No. 158 Farrukh Dustov will face off. Sock is also making his Davis Cup debut, while Dustov has played in 23 Davis Cup ties and holds a 10-17 singles record. Sock and Dustov have never met on the ATP World Tour, but played each other last year at the $50,000 USTA Pro Circuit Challenger on clay in Savannah, Ga., with Sock winning in three sets.

The United States Davis Cup Team will be playing in Asia for just the sixth time and holds a 5-0 record in the country. The U.S. fell to Great Britain, 3-2, in the World Group First Round in March in Glasgow, Scotland. The U.S. is 77-46 when playing on the road.

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Uzbekistan has never competed in the World Group, while the U.S. is 7-1 in World Group Playoffs. Uzbekistan has reached the World Group Playoff on eight occasions, in 2009, 2012, 2014, 2015, and also between 1998 and 2001. The U.S. is 7-1 in World Group Playoffs, with its only loss coming in 1987 to West Germany.

The U.S. leads all nations with 32 Davis Cup titles and owns the longest uninterrupted run in the World Group, dating back to 1989. The U.S. holds a 214-69 all-time Davis Cup record and has a winning record against 35 of the 39 countries faced and a level record with one country. The U.S. is undefeated versus 21 countries and holds an active winning streak against 34 nations. Founded in 1900, Davis Cup is the world’s largest annual international men’s team competition with 126 nations entered in 2015.

The winner of this tie qualifies for the 2016 Davis Cup World Group and is eligible to compete for the Davis Cup title next year. The losing nation will compete in its respective Zone Group I competition in 2016.

WHERE TO WATCH

Tennis Channel will air live daily coverage on Friday (1:00 a.m. ET), Saturday (3:00 a.m. ET), and Sunday (1:00 a.m. ET).

QUOTES & TIDBiTs Of Information

U.S. DAVIS CUP CAPTAIN JIM COURIER

On Jack Sock and Steve Johnson making their Davis Cup debuts…

I think this is a good environment and easy for them to focus here in Tashkent. Our team is quite isolated here. Sometimes playing on the road can be helpful in that respect because there are less distractions. There are very few distractions here. The guys have had a good week of preparation. They are definitely ready to go. They are comfortable on this surface. We are going to put balls in the air and see what happens.

On what he will tell them about how Davis Cup is different than other events…

I don’t think I have to tell them too much for them to understand how different it is to play for their country. They have both experienced Davis Cup as practice partners. They have been at ties before. They understand that the energy is different in these matches. They understand the emotions can be higher and pressures can be different. I am sure they are going to have their moments where they have to figure how this is different. As much as you talk about it, experiencing it for the first time yourself, from my personal experience, was very different than imagining what it was like. Once we are on the court, my role is to help them acclimate to the new environment and hopefully play their very best tennis.

STEVE JOHNSON

On making his Davis Cup debut against Denis Istomin…

I’m excited. I’ve had a lot experience watching the Davis Cup a couple of times as a practice partner. Growing up as a kid, watching it on TV, I’ve always wanted to be on the team. I’m excited to go out there on Friday against Denis. He’s a great player and I’m excited to get out there and try to get a win.

On the clay court in Tashkent…

“It’s something that we have to get used to. I was kind of mentally unprepared to play on the clay again after the French. It’s not my game style. I’m excited to get back out there and play Denis. I’ve never played him before so it will be a fun experience to play someone new.”

On playing in the team environment…

You take it just like any other match. You are looking to execute and try and get the win. With this week, having the team behind you and all your buddies rooting for you, it is a little bit of a different atmosphere. I really enjoy playing in the team environment. Hopefully I can get out there and get a win for the team and get us started with a 1-0 lead Friday morning.

JACK SOCK

On his Davis Cup debut…

I feel good. Obviously this was a big goal of mine to play Davis Cup. I love the team atmospheres. I always love representing my country any way that I can. (I’m an) All American guy from the Midwest – there’s no better feeling that putting on the red, white and blue and playing for your country. The debut here in Tashkent will hopefully be a good one for us. Hopefully I will play well and contribute to the team. I’m looking to play some good tennis. Hopefully we can get a win.

On his health following his heat-related loss at the US Open…

That was very unfortunate. The US Open is my favorite tournament of the year, my favorite two weeks of the year. It was never easy to go out there and playing in front of the home crowd and go out like that, especially when I was in a good position and playing well. I tried to put it behind me the best I can and I’m doing things I need to do off the court and with doctors and my team to get that situation under control. I think I will be okay here. I love the clay and I feel like if I was able to go four sets with Rafa (Nadal) in Paris, I think I can come out here and be able to put in what I need to physically out here.

On preparations…

This week, we have focused a lot on resting, obviously getting what we need to on court. Everyone has played a lot of tennis this summer, Donald making a great run at the Open, Sam and Steve making the semis of doubles, Sam making final of mixed. Everyone has won a lot of matches. For everyone, it’s about getting their bodies healthy, getting everyone feeling good and acclimated to everything here. Everyone feels good, and everyone is ready to battle and hopefully Steve and I can give us a good start tomorrow.

DENIS ISTOMIN

On playing Steve Johnson in the opener and the U.S. team…

Steve is a great player, but of course Davis Cup is different than other tournaments. It will be a tough match for us. For Uzbekistan, this is a match for the history. For us, it will be a big opportunity and big chance.

On potentially winning three points for his team to win…

I’m ready for it. Against, the USA, it will be really, really tough. It is a small chance for us. It will be difficult for us. I hope I have energy to play in my two singles and the doubles. It will be the most successful tie for us if we passed the USA and we go to the World Group for the first time. It will be a big for the country and the young players as well. It would be amazing.

Topics: Davis Cup tennis, Tennis News, U.S. Davis Cup Team