Bob Bryan says he is looking forward to stepping into the role of the American Davis Cup captain and hopefully helping his nation reach the Davis Cup Finals knockout stage. Last Thursday, American Davis Cup team captain Mardy Fish tested positive for COVID-19.
Following the COVID-19 diagnosis, Fish was advised not to travel to Glasgow, where the United States will be taking on Great Britain, Kazakhstan and the Netherlands. “Mardy said run it the way you want to run it – you make the choices you want to make, and I’m here if you want to bounce ideas,” Bryan said, per the Davis Cup Finals website.
“He wants to give me some decision-making power so that I have a little bit more control while I’m here. Obviously, I’m honoured that he would consider me for the position. I had a lot of fun with the guys in Reno [at the Qualifiers] earlier in the year and got to see how Mardy does things and got to see things from a different perspective.
I’ve always been a player, and it’s exciting to have a chance to coach this great team, to be a part of it”.
Bryan hopes to lead the US well in the absence of Fish
Bryan, who captured 23 Grand Slam doubles titles during his astonishing doubles career, was also a part of the American team that won the 2007 Davis Cup title.
This week in Glasgow, Bryan will have Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul, Jack Sock and Rajeev Ram at his disposal. Frances Tiafoe, who reached his first Grand Slam semifinal at the US Open, withdrew from the Davis Cup to rest following his great run at Flushing Meadows.
“These players are really eager to represent their country and they look at it as a privilege and honour, not a burden,” Bryan insisted. It remains to be seen if the Bryan-led United States can finish in the top-2 this week and reach the Davis Cup FInals knockout phase.
