Controversial decision to play Ben Shelton & Tommy Paul in doubles in Davis Cup exit was the right choice, says Andrea Petkovic

Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul competed in the decisive doubles match during the quarterfinal tie against Australia at the 2024 Davis Cup Finals. Despite their loss, former German tennis player Andrea Petkovic believes that the controversial decision to choose Shelton and Paul over doubles specialists Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek was the correct one.

The American Davis Cup team included Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton, Tommy Paul, Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek, with Bob Bryan serving as the captain. The USA faced Australia in the quarterfinals.

In the opening singles match, Ben Shelton faced Thanasi Kokkinakis but was defeated 1-6, 6-4, 6-7(14), giving Australia a 1-0 lead in the tie. Fritz then defeated Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-4, leveling the score at 1-1.

In the deciding doubles match, Australia fielded their doubles specialists Matthew Ebden and Jordan Thompson, while Team USA captain Bryan chose Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul. However, the American pair lost 4-6, 4-6, resulting in a 1-2 loss in the quarterfinals.

Bob Bryan's decision to select Shelton and Paul over Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek for the doubles match received criticism from the tennis community.

Speaking on the 'Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast,' Andrea Petkovic defended Bryan's choice, citing the success of Jannik Sinner and Matteo Berrettini, who also won a deciding doubles match for Italy despite not being doubles specialists themselves.

“I saw the controversy and I see the point. This might sound really surprising but I will defend Bob Bryan. The reason that I have for it is Jannik Sinner and Matteo Berrettini. So basically Italy did exactly the same thing on the same day and it worked out,” Petkovic said [34:35].

Petkovic acknowledged that Sinner and Berrettini did not play their best doubles match but their partnership was successful.

“Yes, they didn’t play the best doubles in the world but they played a top ten pairing in Argentina and they took out Andrea Vavassori and Simone Bolelli who were qualified at the ATP Masters, so they were one of the best pairs. They did exactly the same thing and it worked out. They won. Jannik Sinner and Matteo Berrettini never f*cking played doubles in their lives together, never played doubles at all and they beat a good doubles pair. So it works out,” she added.

The German expressed that she understood Bryan's decision and believed that Ram and Krajicek may not have secured a victory either.

“I understand completely Bob Bryan's decision because I don’t think Rajeev Ram and [Austin] Krajicek would have beaten the Australian pair either. I think you have a bigger chance if [Ben] Shelton closes his eyes and has a crazy good serve day. I think you have a better chance to somehow get in the tiebreak and hope one of the Aussie’s chokes,” Andre Petkovic continued [35:40].

Andrea Petkovic also stated that the controversy surrounding Bryan's decision and the criticism he faced on social media was "unfair."

“I think that’s a bigger chance than having Rajeev Ram and [Austin] Krajicek. I understood his [Bob Bryan's] reasoning behind it. I don’t think he explained it well, I think he didn’t want to explain it after having lost but I could understand where he was coming from and I thought the piling on was a little unfair even though I completely understand where it comes from ‘cause you have to back your doubles players,” Petkovic said.

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Ben Shelton on losing the doubles match at Davis Cup Finals 2024 QF: “To not get a win hurts pretty bad”

Ben Shelton & Tommy Paul at Davis Cup 2024 [Source: Getty]

While speaking to the press after his and Tommy Paul's doubles defeat against Australia in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Davis Cup Finals, Ben Shelton expressed his disappointment at not being able to secure the win.

Shelton said that he had played both a singles and a doubles match, losing both, which made the defeats even more painful.

"That also makes me more gutted that, you know, Bob trusted me. I went out there twice today, obviously I fought my a*s off, and I didn't leave anything out there on the court, but to not get a win in one of those two matches hurts pretty bad," Ben Shelton said.

Following their victory over the USA in the quarterfinals, the Australian team was unable to advance further. In the final four, they lost to the eventual champions, Italy 2-0.