Fritz Levels Quarterfinals as USA Ties with Australia in Davis Cup

Taylor Fritz secured a 6-3, 6-4 win over Australia’s Alex de Minaur to level the Davis Cup quarter-final at 1-1, setting up a decisive doubles match. In the opening singles, Thanasi Kokkinakis defeated Ben Shelton 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (16/14) in a thrilling tie-break to put Australia ahead against the 32-time Davis Cup champions, the United States.

Australia, who have won the tournament 28 times, last claimed the title in 2003 and were runners-up in the past two editions. The US, aiming for their first victory since 2007, relies on Fritz to lead their strong team. Fritz dominated de Minaur in just 71 minutes to level the tie.

Kokkinakis pulled off an impressive win in the opening singles, saving four match points and missing six of his own before eventually winning the tie-break. The emotional Australian expressed his joy, saying the win was huge for him and that he wanted to help his team. The victory was particularly sweet for Kokkinakis, who earned the faith of captain Lleyton Hewitt.

Shelton, making his Davis Cup debut and chosen over Tommy Paul, struggled early on, allowing Kokkinakis to win the first set quickly. Shelton responded in the second set with more confidence, breaking early and saving four break points to force a third. The tie-break was long and intense, with Kokkinakis ultimately claiming victory in the sixth-longest tie-break in Davis Cup history.

Fritz, currently ranked world number four, was in excellent form after a stellar season, which included a runner-up finish at the ATP Finals and a first Grand Slam final at the US Open. He easily handled de Minaur, breaking early in both sets and maintaining control throughout. Despite a strong challenge from de Minaur, who had recently recovered from a hip injury, Fritz held firm to secure the win. He expressed his relief and optimism about the team’s chances in the tournament, saying winning the Davis Cup would cap off a perfect year.

On Thursday evening, Italy, the defending champions, were set to face Argentina in the final quarter-final match, with the winner facing either the US or Australia in the next round. The Netherlands, who defeated Spain in the previous round, will take on Germany in the first semi-final on Friday.