Friday, August 23, 2024

Sports

Rajeev Ram makes US Davis Cup finals Group Stage team

BALBIR SINGH | July 16, 2024 10:06 AM

INDIANAPOLIS: Rajeev Ram is set to make his fourth straight U.S. Davis Cup team. Joining Ram representing the U.S. are Austin Krajicek, Marcos Giron, Sebastian Korda, and Brandon Nakashima. Bob Bryan is Team Captain.

The 16-nation Davis Cup Finals Group Stage will be played across four to-be-determined cities from September 10-15. The top eight nations advancing out of group play will compete in the Final 8 stage of the competition, a knockout-style quarterfinal bracket to be played in November in Malaga, Spain, that will crown the 2024 Davis Cup champion.

In February 2024, the U.S. Davis Cup team secured their spot in the Davis Cup Finals Group Stage with a 4-0 victory in a Qualifier tie against Ukraine, which was played in Lithuania. Krajicek and Ram defeated Beloborodko and Krutykh (6-3, 4-6, 6-3) in their February match. Ram is (8-2) over his Davis Cup doubles career since his debut in 2021.

The Davis Cup is the largest annual international team competition in the world, and the U.S. is its most successful nation. Originally established in 1900 as a contest between America and Great Britain, the event now regularly includes more than 120 nations each year.

The Davis Cup has been held every year since 1900, with the exception of 1901, 1910, 1915-18, 1940-45, and 2020. In total, 15 countries have been crowned Davis Cup champions since the U.S. won the inaugural event. No nation has won more titles than the U.S., which has lifted the trophy 32 times. The U.S. last won the Davis Cup in 2007 when the team of Andy Roddick, James Blake, Mike Bryan, and Bob Bryan lifted the trophy.

Meanwhile Six-time major champion and 2016 Olympic Silver Medalist Rajeev Ram will compete in his third straight Olympics representing Team USA. Ram will team up with Austin Krajicek in doubles play.

The U.S. Olympic tennis team was announced June 20, consisting of four singles players each in the men's and women's draws, two men's doubles teams, two women's doubles teams, and one mixed doubles team. The men’s team consists of singles world No. 12 Fritz, No. 13 Tommy Paul, No. 44 Chris Eubanks, No. 53 Marcos Giron, and doubles No. 6 Ram and No. 15 Krajicek. Fritz, Paul, Eubanks and Giron play singles, while Ram and Krajicek, and Fritz and Paul, will play doubles. The men will be coached by 2012 Olympic doubles gold medalist Bob Bryan.

The 2024 Olympic Games will be held from July 26-August 11 in Paris. Tennis competition is July 27-August 4 on the clay courts of Roland Garros.

Have something to say? Post your comment