By Alberto Amalfi | Saturday, February 4, 2017
Jack Sock and Steve Johnson defeated Swiss partners Henri Laaksonen and Adrien Bossel, 7-6 (3), 6-3, 7-6 (5), clinching the USA's first-round Davis Cup victory in Birmingham.
Photo credit: Getty
Steve Johnson and Jack Sock partnered last summer to claim the bronze medal in the Rio Olympic Games.
Sock and Johnson joined forces again today to drive the United States into the Davis Cup quarterfinals.
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The American pair defeated Henri Laaksonen and Adrien Bossel, 7-6 (3), 6-3, 7-6 (5), giving the USA an insurmountable 3-0 lead over Switzerland in the Davis Cup first-round in Birmingham.
The victory, which comes the day after Sock and John Isner scored singles wins, vaults Team USA into a Davis Cup quarterfinal rematch with Australia.
Australian Open doubles champion John Peers and partner Sam Groth scored a 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 sweep of Jiri Vesely and Jan Satral clinching Australia’s first-round victory over the Czech Republic in Melbourne.
Australia will host the United States in the April 7-9th quarterfinals.
A year ago, the Americans defeated host Australia, 3-1, in the Davis Cup first-round tie staged in Kooyong raising its all-time record vs the green and gold to 26-20.
A tight opening set turned with a powerful tiebreak performance. Sock and Johnson reeled off six of the final seven points building a one-set lead.
Empowered by that strong finish, the Americans jumped out to a 5-1 second-set lead before closing. Sock and Johnson own two of the heaviest forehands in the game and wielded them with purpose: 31 of the Americans’ 43 winners came from the forehand wing.