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[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-microphone”] Draw Ceremony Recap from Host Andy Taylor, Team USA Davis Cup Announcer
2020 Davis Cup Qualifier: USA vs Uzbekistan
You cannot host a Davis Cup Draw Ceremony in Hawaii without stunning views of the Pacific. From the Kohala Room at the Sheraton Waikiki, announcer Andy Taylor emceed the proceedings, while longboard surfers and spouting Humpbacks colored the backdrop.
Andy opened the ceremony by introducing USTA President and Chairman of the Board Patrick Galbraith, joined by ITF Referee Wayne McKewen. Due to concerns over coronavirus, the athletes maintained a safe distance from the ceremony’s attendees. During each introduction, players emerged from the northwest side of the veranda and took their position facing the audience.
With each player and captain in place, Andy then turned the podium over to Wayne McKewen, who explained the weekend’s format.
Day-1 of the Davis Cup Qualifier would feature Team USA’s #1 versus Uzbekistan’s #2, and vice versa. Day-2 would begin with Doubles, followed by Reverse Singles (where Friday’s Singles players swap opponents, barring no substitutions).
Captain Mardy Fish selected Taylor Fritz as his top Singles talent, while Uzbek Captain Farrukh Dustov chose Denis Istomin. Reilly Opelka and Sanjar Fayziev rounded out the Singles roster.
Ron Romano draws Denis Istomin
During the draw, Ron Romano – Executive Director of USTA Hawaii Pacific – selected one of four tennis balls placed in a glass bowl. Each sliced-open ball had a Singles player’s name tucked inside. Ron handed the ball to Wayne McKewen, who revealed the name Denis Istomin, meaning the Tie would start with Uzbekistan’s top player versus Team USA’s #2. Therefore, the draw was set:
Friday | 6 March 2020:
- Match-1: Denis Istomin -156- (UZB) vs Reilly Opelka -38- (USA)
- Match-2: Sanjar Fayziev -474- (UZB) vs Taylor Fritz -24- (USA)
Saturday | 7 March 2020
- Match-1: Sanjar Fayziev / Denis Istomin (UZB) vs Bob Bryan / Mike Bryan (USA)
- Match-2: Denis Istomin -156- (UZB) vs Taylor Fritz -24- (USA)
- Match-3: Sanjar Fayziev -474- (UZB) vs Reilly Opelka -38- (USA)
^ All of Saturday’s Rubbers were pending potential substitutions
