American ATP star Taylor Fritz‘s heart bleeds red, blue, and white. The reason? The success of Team USA at the 2024 Davis Cup. Although it has only been a few days since Fritz overcame his US Open heartbreak, this ATP star has already started preparing for the next tournament. Absent from Team USA’s roster for the Davis Cup, Fritz showed his utmost support for his colleagues with a special gesture.

Team USA continued to display their strength at the 2024 Davis Cup. Despite the absence of Taylor Fritz, America’s Reilly Opelka and Brandon Nakashima kicked off the Finals group stage with respective victories. The duo secured a 2-0 lead for Team USA in the Group C opener in China’s Zhuhai. On the other hand, Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek also defeated Matias Soto and Tomás Barrios Vera 3-0, placing their country at the top of the table alongside Germany. The official Instagram profile of the Davis Cup shared a poster of these talented players for their flawless performance in reaching the finals in Malaga. “A flawless week by the Americans gets them a ticket to Malaga’s Final 8 in November 🙌 #DavisCup,”  captioned the page.

Fritz, who wasn’t on the roster for Team USA, showed his support for the talented players and Team USA. He shared the Davis Cup’s Instagram post on his story and added American flags to showcase her patriotic happiness. While the absence of Fritz, Shelton, and Tiafoe caused anxiety among some fans, Opelka and Nakashima’s skills, combined with Ram and Krajicek’s coordination, revealed the team’s depth.

Nakashima, who made his team proud with his performance, was delighted with his victory. “It means a lot, I know last year the guys missed out on that spot just by a little bit. To be able to be in this position right now, to be clinching that spot, it’s very important for us and I’m just proud of all the guys on the team,” he said.

While Team USA’s roster continues to mesmerize the tennis fraternity with its amazing skill, Nadal’s sudden withdrawal from Team Europe has caused much controversy. Initially, fans thought it was due to Nadal’s physical inability, but later his statement disappointed them, as they found the legend irresponsible towards his supporters.

Rafael Nadal’s sudden withdrawal angered the fraternity

While it was supposed to be the Spaniard’s final Davis Cup, his sudden withdrawal has jeopardized that thought leaving fans in sheer disappointment. Speaking about his wish to play under Bjorn Borg’s final captaincy, Nadal tweeted last week, “I’m really disappointed to share that I won’t be able to compete at the Laver Cup in Berlin next week. This is a team competition and to really support Team Europe, I need to do what’s best for them and at this moment there are other players who can help the team deliver the win.”

His statement, no matter how logical, disappointed his fans. They believed it would be the Mallorcan legend’s final Davis Cup, so many had prepared to attend it live. Given that Nadal announced his withdrawal just a few days before the tournament began, fans were left scrambling after spending large sums on tickets, accommodation, and more. Initially, they assumed Nadal’s injury concerns were the issue. However, the Spaniard later confirmed that he was relaxing at home and doing other things. Nadal’s decision to pull out of the Davis Cup and his perceived lack of confidence disappointed fans, as they had hoped for his participation. After Nadal’s withdrawal, his pal Grigor Dimitrov joined the team as a replacement.

The 2024 Davis Cup has already started creating a buzz among tennis lovers. From Nadal’s withdrawal to Team USA’s excellent performance, the tournament has left the fraternity intrigued. While winning or losing is part of the game, Team USA’s hard work has earned them great respect, demonstrating how lower-ranked players can perform wonders under the right guidance. So, which team are you rooting for?