One of the many highlights of Bob Bryan’s time as one half of a record-breaking men’s doubles pair was helping the United States claim the 2007 Davis Cup—the last time the country won the competition. Now Bryan will look to end that drought from the sidelines.
US Tennis Association announced Bryan’s appointment as Davis Cup captain on Monday Mardi Fish, Brian’s first match in charge will come during the group stage matches in September.
Brian and his twin brother, Mike, together earned a record 16 Grand Slam championships, 119 Tour-level titles and an Olympic gold medal in doubles, spending 10 seasons atop the ATP rankings before retiring in 2020. They went 25–5 as a pair in Davis Cup matches, including a victory that marked the US victory over Russia in Portland 16 years earlier.
“It’s at the top of my list of best memories in tennis. All those times with my teammates in the Davis Cup trench are etched in my mind. We had highs and we had lows, but they’re certainly unforgettable.” ” bob bryan said in a telephone interview from Miami, where he lives. “We will never forget to celebrate with our comrades, with whom we have endured so much: Andy Roddick, james blake, Mardi Fish. We had a fun night out in Portland. We were drinking out of the cup — whatever Roddick put in it. He was the bartender that night.”
Bryan, who will also have a role in the USTA’s player development program, will take charge of the Davis Cup team during a recent surge by the American men on tour. It is 20 years since Roddick won the US Open, the last Grand Slam singles trophy won by a man from the US, but Frances Tiafoe reached the semifinals at Flushing Meadows last September and tommy paul Made it to the last four at the Australian Open in January.
A week after the Australian Open, they were both among 10 men from the United States ranked in the top 50, their highest since June 1995. taylor fritz 5 last month, it was the highest ranking for an American man since Roddick in 2009.
“What I’m looking forward to is working with the guys throughout the year. Getting to know them better. Getting to know them and their coaches. As a captain, you have to understand that everyone is different and on different terms.” Responds differently. With coaching, sometimes it’s better not to say too much,” Bryan said. “I’m definitely going to be a good listener, but I want to bring my excitement, passion and energy to this event and show people what an honor it is to represent America, I think these people Really driven to win this thing.” ,
The USTA said in January that Fish would no longer serve as captain. He is on this post since 2019.
Brian was the Davis Cup coach under Fish and served as a caretaker captain last year when Fish was sidelined with COVID-19.
Both were fined $10,000 and placed on four months’ probation by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) in November for promoting a gambling operator via social media. ITIA said Brian and Fish cooperated fully with its investigation and promptly removed the posts in question.
“I’ve never done sports gambling of any kind and I broke a new ITIA rule. It was a bit unclear as to how that would affect my chances of becoming captain, but it’s under my review now,” said Bryan. “I’m glad to have it behind me.”