US doubles player Rajeev Ram is still not happy with a decision made by former Davis Cup captain Mardy Fish.
The 40-year-old is a veteran on the circuit and has six doubles Grand Slam titles to his name.
He has also represented the United States on numerous occasions both in the Davis Cup and the Olympic Games, where he won two silver medals.
His passion and desire to play for his country explains why he was upset by a decision made by Mardy Fish, who led and selected Team USA’s Davis Cup team in 2022.
What did Mardy Fish do at the 2022 Davis Cup that upset Rajeev Ram?
Fish, a three-time Grand Slam quarter-finalist, was Team USA’s previous Davis Cup captain. He took over from Jim Courier in January 2019 and remained in the role until Bob Bryan replaced him in March 2023.
Ahead of the 2022 Davis Cup, Fish made a decision to not include Ram and only chose four players to compete in the tournament when he was able to choose five. This left Rajeev Ram frustrated and he told Christopher Clarey’s Tennis & Beyond website that he has not spoken with Fish since and the World number seven has him blocked on social media.
“The thing that I had the biggest problem with, and the reason I feel like we didn’t do very well, is because we didn’t take a complete team. That’s something I’m honestly still probably not over,” Ram said. “Do I think I should have been picked? Yeah, I do.
“That year, we had three players competing in the World Tour Finals. We had Taylor Fritz, Austin Krajicek and myself, and we left two on the bench. I don’t think any other country would have done that. Mardy’s blocked me on social media, so I’m gonna say no (laughs). We’ve not had a conversation since that day.
“The USTA, I did have a chat with them. It wasn’t so much of an apology. It was more of an explanation, saying that the captain has basically full autonomy. And I told them exactly what I told you that I just don’t understand full autonomy to not pick a full team. And we sort of disagreed on that.”
Rajeev Ram helps Team USA reach 2024 Davis Cup ‘Final 8’
Ram was selected in the USA’s 2024 Davis Cup team to play doubles matches alongside Austin Krajicek along with singles players Reilly Opelka and Brandon Nakashima.
The pair won their both matches against Chile and Slovakia which contributed to 3-0 wins for the American team in Zhuhai, China.
Though they lost their doubles contest against Germany, USA still won the tie 2-1 and topped Group C to reach the Davis Cup ‘Final 8’.
Team USA will play their quarter-final tie against either Argentina and Australia when the ‘Final 8’ begins in November.
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