Khachanov and Medvedev lead Russia to victory over Team USA

Team USA came out firing on Sunday at the ATP Cup in Perth, but in the end proved no match for a loaded Russian squad featuring two of the world’s best players, Karen Khachanov and Daniil Medvedev.

Despite a nearly perfect start, Taylor Fritz was unable to capitalize on a few crucial points against Khachanov. Fritz broke the world No. 18 in the second game and raced to a 6-3 first-set win. The 22-year-old American controlled the points with his accurate backhand, while Khachanov struggled to find his form, coughing up far too many errors in the first set.

Margins are razor-thin in pro tennis, and if you get a chance, you better take it. Fritz let two break chances slip early in the second set, but still found himself up a set and serving 3-2. He double faulted down break point, and from that point on it was all Khachanov. The Russian closed the match winning the final 11 of 14 games en route to a 3-6, 7-5, 6-1 victory.

“He started like on the 10th speed,” said Khachanov. “In the car you have only six, but he started with 10. And he was hitting everything like full power and he didn't give me any rhythm… I think at the end of the first set I already had him, I had a break point. If I would have broken, maybe I would have even turned it around earlier.

Getty Images

In the second rubber, John Isner proved no match for Medvedev, as the US Open finalist needed just an hour to demolish the huge-serving American, 6-3, 6-1.

Medvedev’s incredible range on his return frustrated Isner, who served an uncharacteristically low four aces. Isner surely won't want to play Medvedev anytime soon. The Russian matches up about as well as anyone could against a player like Isner.

“I got my ass kicked out there,” said Isner. “He did what he does well, which is make a lot of balls, that's kind of how he was playing last year. I wasn't even close tonight. Generally, with my game, I can keep matches close and make it depend on a few points here or there, but that wasn't the case tonight… I didn't quite serve as well as I needed to, there's no doubt. I can certainly serve better.”

Team USA’s Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek defeated Medvedev and Khachanov, 6-3, 6-4 to avoid a straight-rubber sweep.