Davis Cup World Group Playoffs 2014 – USA def. Slovakia 3-0
- Bob/Mike Bryan def. Norbert Gombos/Lukas Lacko 6-1, 6-2, 6-1
Six days prior, they won their 16th major and 100th career doubles title together
On this day, they’d deliver their 23rd clutch, Davis Cup win for Team USA – clinching the World Group Playoff Tie over Slovakia
Bob and Mike Bryan are living legends.
With the career Grand Slam.
Olympic Gold.
100 Doubles titles.
Not to mention, Davis Cup Champions.
Since 2003, they’ve owned their role as MVP’s for the U.S. Davis Cup Team, losing only four matches in 12 years.
Regardless of a Tie’s significance, they’ve been there…and delivered.
At Chicago’s Sears Centre arena on a September Saturday in 2014, they did it again…
Thanks to straight-sets wins from John Isner and Sam Querrey the day before, Bob and Mike were in position again to clinch the Tie for Team USA, keeping the U.S. in the World Group…to compete for the title in 2015.
Across the net? Slovakia’s Norbert Gombos and Lukas Lacko.
The Slovak’s held-serve in game-1, but that’d be the only game they’d win in the set…as Bob and Mike put on a tactical clinic at the net.
After two early holds from Gombos and Lacko in the second, the brothers would again earn the set on a break, winning 6-2.
Lukas Lacko managed to hold the 4th game of set-3…the rest – went to the #1 doubles team in the world – as Mike served out the match with an ace up the T.
Overall – a dominant Davis Cup performance from Team USA in Chicago.
It was their first Davis Cup “three-and-out win” since capturing the title in 2007…
…and the team’s first win…without dropping a set, since defeating Italy in the 1979 World Group Final.
Team USA has remained in the World Group since 1989 – the longest streak of any nation…and come early March, the boys will be back at it – in the World Group – competing for the 2015 Davis Cup trophy.
