Querrey Clinches Davis Cup Tie for U.S. over Brazil

Despite dropping the first set, Sam Querrey rallied to clinch the Davis Cup tie for his U.S. team in a tougher than expected battle against Brazil's Thiago Alves.

By Erik Gudris

(February 3rd, 2013) -- Sam Querrey probably didn't expect to be called up for duty while Brazil's Thiago Alves answered his country's call as both men suited up for the final reverse singles rubber between the U.S. and Brazil in their Davis Cup tie held in Jacksonville, Florida.

Querrey wasn't even announced during the opening ceremony at the start of the final day's action as it was probably expected that his teammate John Isner would wrap up the tie in the first singles match against Thomaz Bellucci.

But when Isner fell in five sets to Bellucci, Querrey took to the court against Alves who is currently ranked No. 141 in the world to decide the tie locked at 2-all.

Perhaps it was the fact that Querrey didn't plan to be on court that explained his rough start in the first set. Querrey racked up 20 unforced errors while Alves himself played inspired tennis to earn a late break of serve for 5-4. An unsure Querrey could only watch as Alves served out the set to love 6-4.

The second set saw Querrey settle down and play more aggressive tennis, especially on his favored forehand side. After earning a break of serve to go up 4-2, Querrey looked poised to close out the set at 5-2 after he held four set points on Alves's serve. The Brazilian fought them all off to hold for 5-3, but Querrey soon held in perfunctory fashion to level the match at one set apiece.

Querrey broke again in the third set to go up 4-2 but soon found himself broken back by Alves for 4-all. With the crowd thinning out except for the still boisterous contingent of Brazilian fans, Querrey managed to focus and break Alves again. That soon lead to Querrey closing out the set 6-4

With a forehand volley winner, Querrey broke in the fourth set to go up 3-2. Though Alves held later for 4-5 to force Querrey to serve for the match, and the tie, it appeared to be a mere formality. But that wasn't the case as a nervous Querrey missed out on his first match point and then botched an overhead down break point to allow Alves back in at 5-all.

The set soon entered a tiebreak with neither man looking like the one to be favored. After surviving a barrage of shots while up at net to go up 3-2, Querrey went ahead 4-2 only to watch Alves fight back for 3-5. But Alves committed unnecessary errors in the key moments that allowed Querrey to pull ahead for 6-3. A final error from Alves was all Querrey needed to close out the 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(3) victory that gave the U.S. a 3-2 win.

Now into the quarterfinals, the U.S. will next face Serbia in Boise, Idaho during the first weekend in April.

(Photo Credit: Davis Cup)