Shelton Reacts To Losing Twice At Davis Cup After Controversial Doubles Choice

Ben Shelton was devastated about losing two matches at the Davis Cup Finals after Team USA's captain, Bob Bryan, controversially picked him and Tommy Paul for the doubles against Australia.

Before the quarterfinal tie against the Australians, Shelton was not certain to be picked for the singles or doubles matches because Bryan had Taylor Fritz and Paul in the team, who are both ahead of him in the singles rankings.

Fritz, the world No. 4 and this year's US Open and ATP Finals runner-up, always seemed likely to play, but Bryan might have been tempted to pick Paul as the other singles player after his superb year, including winning an indoor hardcourt title in Stockholm last month.

However, Shelton's firepower was chosen for the singles match against Thanasi Kokkinakis. Despite having four match points, the 22-year-old lost in a deciding set tiebreak to hand Australia a 1-0 lead.

Team USA's hopes were kept alive when Fritz played excellently to overcome Alex de Minaur. That meant captain Bryan needed to decide which of his players would be the most suitable team for the deciding doubles match.

Most expected him to choose Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek, two doubles specialists who have played numerous matches together. Putting them on the team instead of two more singles players made it seem obvious they would be chosen.

Instead, Bryan elected to try to surprise the Australians by choosing Shelton and Paul. The move backfired spectacularly when doubles specialists Matthew Ebden and Jordan Thompson comfortably defeated them to send Australia to the semifinal.

That decision outraged some former players and coaches. Serena Williams' former coach, Rennae Stubbs, was among those who said a specialist doubles team usually beats two singles players who rarely play together.

Bryan's status as one of the greatest doubles players ever made the decision even more perplexing. He and his brother Mike Bryan were one of the best and most successful specialist doubles partnerships in tennis history.

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In a press conference after Team USA was eliminated, Shelton did not criticize the move to play him. By contrast, he felt devastated about not repaying the faith Bryan had placed in him in either match he participated in.

Shelton possesses the playing style and personality usually suited to team events and important matches. That might have influenced Bryan's decision to play him in the singles and doubles, but it did not work in either case.

Team Australia will face defending champions Italy in the semifinal after Jannik Sinner and Matteo Berrettini won the deciding doubles match. An even bigger upset will be needed to defeat a team containing the year-end No. 1 on the ATP rankings.

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