Thanasi Kokkinakis secured a thrilling victory for Australia in the Davis Cup quarterfinals against the United States, prevailing over Ben Shelton in a hard-fought match that went down to the wire. The encounter took place on an indoor hard court at the Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martina Carpena in Malaga, Spain.
Kokkinakis, ranked 77th, showcased his resilience by saving four match points in a tense tiebreaker before eventually clinching the win with his seventh match point. Despite facing 21 aces from the 21st-ranked Shelton, who had reached the U.S. Open semifinals in 2023, Kokkinakis managed to maintain his composure and emerge victorious.
The victory gave Australia a 1-0 lead in the quarterfinals, with the second singles match featuring U.S. Open runner-up Taylor Fritz against No. 9 Alex de Minaur of Australia. The outcome of this match would determine whether the tie would be decided by the doubles encounter between the respective teams.
Following a grueling battle, Kokkinakis expressed his elation at the hard-fought win, emphasizing his desire to secure the victory for his team. The match was characterized by Shelton's 29 unforced errors in his Davis Cup debut, nearly double the 15 errors committed by Kokkinakis.
Shelton's performance fluctuated throughout the match, with a strong start in the second set where he broke early and saved multiple break points. However, he was unable to capitalize on his opportunities in the decisive tiebreaker, allowing Kokkinakis to seize the momentum and emerge triumphant.
The Americans, with a rich history in the Davis Cup, have not reached the semifinals since 2018 and are aiming to end their title drought dating back to 2007. Australia, a 28-time champion, has been a formidable contender in recent years, finishing as the runner-up in the past two editions of the tournament.
The winner of the quarterfinal clash between Australia and the United States will face defending champion Italy, led by top-ranked player Jannik Sinner, or Argentina in the semifinals. The other semifinal features the Netherlands against Germany, with the Dutch team causing a major upset by eliminating Rafael Nadal and Spain in the quarterfinals.
Overall, the Davis Cup quarterfinals have set the stage for intense competition and thrilling encounters as the top tennis nations vie for a coveted spot in the semifinals.
