American number one John Isner cruised past fellow big server Sam Groth 7-6, 6-2, 6-2 to put the USA up 1-0 over Australia, before Aussie number one Bernard Tomic leveled the tie at 1-1 with a four-set win over Jack Sock. The United States and Australia are all level as day two approaches with the crucial doubles rubber coming up.
Isner Breezes Past Groth
In the first set, both players held serve six times each, bringing the set to 6-6. In the tiebreak, Isner held his first serve point, before playing an incredible return point to go up 2-0 in the breaker. Groth held his second serve point, before Isner held both of his to go up 4-1. Isner then broke Groth's first serve point before the Aussie held for 5-2. Isner closed the set out in emphatic fashion to take it 7-6.
In the second, the American broke Groth immediatly to go up 1-0. Both held serve until 4-2, when Isner broke the Aussie again to go up 5-2. The American served out the set to love to go up two sets to love on Groth. The third was an extremely similar story to the second, with Isner breaking two times to win the set and the match. Isner completed the straight sets win in only an hour and 49 minutes.
“First set could have gone either way,” said Isner. “I played exceptional tennis in the last two sets.”
Typical of an Isner performance, the American had an excellent serving performance, aided by a fast grass court surface in Kooyong. Isner blasted 20 aces and made 67% of first serves. Isner won 76% of first serve points and an excellent 84% of second serve points won.
Tomic Fends Off Sock Challenge To Level Tie
In the second rubber of the day, Bernard Tomic went up against the consistent play of Jack Sock. In the first set, both players held serve until 6-6, when a tiebreak ensued. In the tiebreak, Tomic held serve once, before breaking Sock's first serve point. The American held his next service point to bring the score to 2-1. Tomic held both his serve points and broke Sock's first before the American again held his second to bring the score to 5-2. Tomic then held both his serve points to take the set 7-6.
In the second, both players held serve three times each to get to 3-3, before Tomic broke for 4-3. The Aussie then held to consolidate the break and broke again to take the set 6-3. In the third, both players held serve once to begin the match. In the third game, it was Sock who gained his first break of the match, breaking the Tomic serve to go up 2-1. Sock consolidated the break and then each player held serve twice to go to 5-3. With Tomic serving to stay in the set, the American broke again to take the set 6-3 and force a fourth set. In the fourth, both players held four times each to bring the set to 4-4. In the ninth game, Tomic broke to give himself the chance to serve out the win. Tomic made no mistake, serving out the win easily to take the set 6-4.
“I had to find the energy,” Tomic said, praising Australian Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt for saying the right things and countering his negativity. “First time Lleyton on the [captain’s] chair for me - it’s something I’ll remember.”
Much like Isner, Tomic also put up a teriffic serving dispaly to level the tie at 1-1. With the fast grass court aiding Tomic's slice and serving game, Tomic had 12 aces and made 67% of first serves. The Aussie also won 77% of first serve points and 65% of second serve points.
What To Expect On Day Two At Kooyong
On day two of the Davis Cup World Group first round, the Bryan brothers of the USA face John Peers and playing captain Lleyton Hewitt. Hewitt is playing this weekend, despite retiring a month ago due to Nick Kyrgios' viral illnes, making Hewitt the first ever playing captain in Davis Cup history. Whoever wins the crucial doubles rubber will be in prime position to advance to the quarterfinals.