Taylor Fritz defends Team USA’s decision of shockingly benching doubles specialist Rajeev Ram from the US Davis Cup team


Taylor Fritz defends Team USA’s decision of shockingly benching doubles specialist Rajeev Ram from the US Davis Cup team

Taylor Fritz and Rajeev Ram

Taylor Fritz is having a dream season. He won 3 ATP singles titles this year. He also played in his maiden ATP Finals tournament this year, losing to eventual winner Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals. He also achieved his career’s highest ranking i.e., the World No.8.

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Now, all he wants is to win the Davis Cup for his country. He is included in the quartet of players who will be representing Team USA and will play the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, Spain. His team members include Tommy Paul, Jack Sock, and Frances Tiafoe. Mardy Fish is the captain of the team.

But before the Team USA can start their campaign in Davis Cup Finals, a controversy has surfaced. Rajeev Ram, the American doubles specialist has been excluded from the team. In his place, Tommy Paul was included.

This decision did not go down well with Rajeev Ram and his supporters and fans. He expressed his disappointment after winning the ATP Finals 2022 doubles title with his British partner Joe Salisbury.

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Meanwhile, A social media user accused the players of budging the USTA and Team Captain Mardy Fish on the decision to exclude Rajeev Ram. To this World No.8, Taylor Fritz gave a reply.

My guy don’t call us out for our “egos” like u know how the team was picked if ur gonna personally insult us and proceed to skate around it with no further explanation. Btw if Raj wanted to celebrate our team qualifying/winning at any point we would all be PUMPED to have him,” his caption read.

Team USA with their performance in the Davis Cup has to prove to the world that excluding Rajeev Ram from the team was a wise move. However, till then speculations of a tiff between the players will be ripe.

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Social Media cannot understand Rajeev Ram’s exclusion from Team USA

Rajeev Ram
Rajeev Ram

Rajeev Ram is one of the most successful players in doubles. He with his British partner Joe Salisbury has won three major titles. They also won their maiden ATP Finals doubles title this year. He also won the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics mixed doubles event silver medal with Venus Williams.

He was part of Team USA during the Qualifier stage and the Group stage. He partnered with Jack Sock to win against Juan Sebastian Cabal and Nicolas Barrientos 6-3,6-4. In the Group stage matches, The pair defeated Great Britain’s Joe Salisbury and Andy Murray 5-7, 6-4, 7-5. Also, they beat the Netherlands’ pair of Matwe Middelkoop and Wesley Koolhof 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-4.

Hence, the sudden exclusion of Rajeev Ram is not going down well with social media users. Many also gave reactions to the post above. Here are a few reactions.

It is most likely that now Frances Tiafoe will pair up with Jack Sock for their doubles matches in the Davis Cup Finals. The pair shot to fame when they beat the pair of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer in the 2022 Laver Cup in London. This was also the last professional match of the Swiss legend.

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