IN November, the 2021 Davis Cup takes place across three cities in Europe as 18 teams aim to lift the ultimate international men’s team prize. Six groups of three sees the group winner automatically advancing to the knockout quarter finals, with the two next best nations also moving through. In the lead-up to the event, Rookie Me Central will be previewing each of the nations in reverse world ranking order.

USA

Rank: 5th

Captain: Mardy Fish

The fourth overall seeds at the Davis Cup Finals have a chance to leapfrog fourth ranked Belgium who failed to make the final 18, if they can progress beyond the group stage. The United States have drawn Italy and Colombia, two very different levels of difficulty. Whilst the South American nation possesses former world number one doubles combination of Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah it is unlikely that either of the players outside the Top 100 will give the Americans a run for their money in the singles format. The Americans have world number four in doubles, Rajeev Ram who is that specialist doubles talent, but instead of opting for another specialist doubles player, they will bring in someone with limited doubles experience like Reilly Opelka (143rd, nine tournaments) or Jack Sock (148th, 11 tournaments).

From a singles perspective, John Isner and Opelka are effectively the same type of player. A massive server who relies on that side of their game to rack up the wins. They struggle against good retrievers, and whilst they should be able to overpower those from Colombia, the Italian combination likely of Matteo Berrettini and Jannik Sinner – both now inside the Top 10 – will give them serious worries. Taylor Fritz offers a point of difference compared to the others, though it is somewhat surprising Sebastian Korda or even the recently in-form Frances Tiafoe were not selected for the clash. Captain Mardy Fish has gone with the tried and true tested trio of Isner, Opelka and Fritz.

The issue is, the leading Davis Cup nation – which has 32 titles to its name – has won one title in the past 26 years. That came in 2007, but otherwise Fritz has only been born to witness one title. Even with the glorious combinations they had through the 90s, the United States only won the three titles, with 28 of their 32 titles coming in 1982 or prior. In short, the USA have an unacceptable Davis Cup title drought on their hands, but seem unwilling to take the risk on others. Korda and Tiafoe could sensationally bomb out, but they also have more upside than those selected, and even Mackenzie McDonald would have been a welcome change. But for now, tried and true seems to be the go, and there is no certainty they survive the group stage with Italy a genuine title contender.

Prediction: 2nd in Group E

IN A SENTENCE: “The United States seem set it their ways to keep rolling with their top three tried and true players without taking risks, something that will provide reliability, but brings more questions as to when they should pull the trigger to get back to the top of the Davis Cup world.”

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Picture credit: Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images

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