Thanasi Kokkinakis defeated Ben Shelton 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (16/14) to give Australia a 1-0 lead over 32-time Davis Cup winners the United States in the quarterfinals on Thursday. Australia, which has won the competition 28 times, second only to the United States, last won it in 2003 and finished second in the previous two editions. Kokkinakis emerged victorious after a thrilling tie-break, preserving four match points and turning down six of his own before eventually winning when Shelton hit long.
“I am not certain if I’ve been that psyched up in my life, I wanted it that one bad, I wanted to aid my team,” said the man from Australia. “(The tie-break) was difficult; we were both serving great; I believe I only got tight on one shot… he was serving incredible; I can’t even explain; I’m overjoyed.
“It’s a huge victory for me…” “Lleyton (Hewitt, Australia’s captain) believed in me; anyone could have played, but I wanted to give it my all.” Shelton, making his Davis Cup debut and chosen over Tommy Paul by captain Bob Bryan, showed anxiety in the opening set, which Kokkinakis took full advantage of.
After Sheldon held in the first game, the Australian won the subsequent six straight to quickly finish the first set. The American, ranked 21st, 56 places above his opponent, hit back aggressively in the second, bringing out significantly more Shelton, 22, survived four break points for a hold to make it 4-2, then used his massive serve to serve out the set, closing it with an ace to force a third.
Neither could force their way ahead, and a nerve-racking and protracted tie-break occurred, with Kokkinakis eventually claiming victory. In the second match, Australia’s Alex de Minaur faces world number four Taylor Fritz, who came second in the ATP Finals last week and made his maiden Grand Slam final at the US Open in September. Later Thursday, Jannik Sinner’s Italy, the defending champions, will meet Argentina in the final quarter-final, with the victor facing Australia or the United States.