Australia's Thanasi Kokkinakis Beats USA's Ben Shelton In Davis Cup Thriller
NDTV
Thanasi Kokkinakis edged Ben Shelton 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (16/14) to put Australia 1-0 up on record 32-time Davis Cup winners the United States in the quarter-finals on Thursday.
Thanasi Kokkinakis edged Ben Shelton 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (16/14) to put Australia 1-0 up on record 32-time Davis Cup winners the United States in the quarter-finals on Thursday. Australia, who have triumphed 28 times, second only to the USA, last won the tournament in 2003 but finished as runners-up in the last two editions. Kokkinakis emerged triumphant after a gripping tie-break, saving four match points and spurning six of his own before eventually prevailing when Shelton went long.
"I don't know if I've been that pumped up in my life, I wanted that one bad, I wanted to help my team," said the Australian.
"(The tie-break) was tough, we were both serving well, I think I only got tight on one shot... he was serving incredibly, I can't even speak, I'm happy.
"It's a massive win for me... Lleyton (Hewitt, Australia's captain) showed faith in me, anyone could have played but I just wanted to give it my all."
Shelton, on his Davis Cup debut and chosen ahead of Tommy Paul by captain Bob Bryan, showed nerves in the first set and Kokkinakis took full advantage.
