Earlier today, Italy’s Davis Cup team advanced to the semifinals of the 2022 edition of the tournament. This boost was provided when Lorenzo Sonego beat Francis Tiafoe in the singles category, and Fabio Fognini and Simone Bolelli overcame Jack Sock and Tommy Paul.
While Taylor Fritz won his singles match against Lorenzo Musetti to give Team USA a level playing field, Sock and Paul fell to the Italian duo of Fognini and Bolelli in straight sets (6-4 6-4).
Team USA, a 32-time Davis Cup champion, lifted the trophy for the last time in 2007. And after today’s loss, critics came for the team selection and player pairing, criticizing the squad and captain Mardy Fish’s decision of excluding top American doubles player Rajeev Ram.
Ram, a former world no. 1 in doubles category, is now ranked no. 3 in the world. He has a total of 5 major titles, 3 in men’s doubles and 2 in mixed doubles category respectively. He also won the ATP Finals in doubles category earlier this week. Therefore, his exclusion from the Davis Cup team has come as a huge surprise for tennis fans and experts, with criticisms pointed mostly toward team captain Mardy Fish. Fish, however, stuck to his guns and defended his decision until the very end.
The latest controversy over the issue happened on Twitter when Canadian tennis player Brayden Schnur took a potshot at Team USA while praising Ram as a “great player and even better man”.
Brayden Schnur Vs Team USA: A War of Words
Brayden Schnur, 27, is a Canadian professional tennis player who achieved a career-high ranking of no. 92 in the world in 2019. Currently, he is ranked 224 in the world.
Look at the players on the team. Take a look at their egos. We’re all smart enough to put the pieces together. I feel for Rajeev, great player even better man.
— Brayden Schnur (@BraydenSchnur) November 24, 2022Earlier today, Schnur started a heated war of words when his reply to a tweet caught the ire of Taylor Fritz. In response to the since-deleted tweet, Schnur had written “Look at the players on the team. Take a look at their egos. We’re all smart enough to put the pieces together. I feel for Rajeev, great player even better man.”
Don’t hate the player, hate the game. I call it as I see it. Don’t tell me benching a world number 1 was in your guys favor
— Brayden Schnur (@BraydenSchnur) November 24, 2022Fritz responded to the tweet saying “Please elaborate on my “ego” Brayden, would love to hear about how that played a part in how the team was chosen”; while Paul testily questioned Schnur’s standing as a player “Brayden shnur what do you have to do with tennis?”
I mean… one thing I gotta say is I’m shy in person and have pretty bad social anxiety… so I don’t really think that’s fair for you to assume anything about my ego and if ur gonna take shots at me and my teams character I feel like I do actually deserve some explanation 🤷🏻♂️
— Taylor Fritz (@Taylor_Fritz97) November 25, 2022At one point Schnur said that Fritz has spoken more words to him in the Twitter exchange than in real life. The world no. 9 shot back saying that he has social anxiety that makes him shy and reserved. “I mean… one thing I gotta say is I’m shy in person and have pretty bad social anxiety… so I don’t really think that’s fair for you to assume anything about my ego and if ur gonna take shots at me and my teams character I feel like I do actually deserve some explanation” was Fritz’s response.
My guy don’t call us out for our “egos” like u know how the team was picked if ur gonna personally insult us and proceed to skate around it with no further explanation. Btw if Raj wanted to celebrate our team qualifying/winning at any point we would all be PUMPED to have him.
— Taylor Fritz (@Taylor_Fritz97) November 25, 2022After much back and forth, Fritz’s final words were “My guy don’t call us out for our “egos” like u know how the team was picked if ur gonna personally insult us and proceed to skate around it with no further explanation. Btw if Raj wanted to celebrate our team qualifying/winning at any point we would all be PUMPED to have him.”
Taylor, the second part of your tweet doesn’t make sense to me. @RajeevRam with Sock win in Glasgow is THE reason US qualified! You lost your rubber then. The fact Rajeev wasn’t chosen as the best US doubles player is beyond belief! Davis cup is about country, not a frat club!
— Temi (@Temi20401275) November 25, 2022I wonder if it has to do with prize money split also. $1.13M for players and $531k for federation for QF
$1.13M / 5 = $226k each
$1.13M / 4 = $286k each
Leaving Ram off the team frees up $226k more for the other 4. This decision was basically a gift to Paul or Sock over Ram.
— Steve Suresh (@steveksuresh) November 25, 2022A huge fan of yours Taylor, but this reply doesn't help lol. So Raj was left out of the team because he wanted to be in bed early and skip the late night celebrations? The dude is 38 years old. Outside of the court he has other priorities. Doesn't mean he can't do the job.
— Newday (@Alliswelliswell) November 25, 2022How’s the coach still in his job man? I don’t see the point about egos but the team selection is beyond ridiculous.
— Aviman Satpathy (@SatpathyAviman) November 25, 2022I'm sure the Captain picks the team. If you have a beef bring it up with the captain.
— Some Austrian 🇺🇸 💚🦁🇵🇹 (@IceDog07) November 25, 2022Tennis fans and Twitter users were divided over the issue, with some siding with the Americans and others with the Canadian. A few responses also agreed with Schnur’s comment about the team’s ego, while more rational comments asked for criticism to be directed at the person responsible for player selection i.e caption Mardy Fish.
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