By Randy Walker
@TennisPublisher
Davis Cup rookie Ethan Quinn’s heroics – saving four match points in a dramatic debut in representing the United States – pushed the U.S. Davis Cup team to a 4-0 win over Hungary in the event’s opening qualifying round on an indoor clay court in Tatabanya, Hungary.
Quinn saved all four of his match points in the final-set tiebreaker in his 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(13-11) win over Fabian Marozsan. Quinn, ranked No. 68 in the ATP rankings, faced match points down 4-6, 6-7 and 10-11 in the final-set tiebreaker against the No. 46-ranked Marozsan. He converted on his fourth match point opportunity on the 24th point of the tiebreaker.
Quinn has storied history of saving match points in big matches, most famously saving quadruple match point in the 2023 NCAA singles final for the University of Georgia as you can read here
“Every single time I’m down match points, I have this weird thought that, ‘All right, I can do it again,’” Quinn said at the 2025 Delray Beach Open. “My first Futures title I won saving four match points against August Holmgren (San Diego in 2022) and then obviously the NCAAs. So I’ve had a history of saving match points in big matches and big tournaments. And so I draw on that a lot of the times. I’m never out until the last point.”
Following his win over Marozsan, Quinn said that his mindset while fighting off the match points and other big points in the latter stages of the final set was “just stay simple, stay clear” and that focused and intense practice sessions helped him”feel reassured in a big moment.”
“Ethan did something special today, no doubt,” said U.S. Davis Cup Captain Bob Bryan after Quinn’s win on Saturday that gave the USA a commanding 2-0 lead after the first day. “He’s here in his Davis Cup debut in a hostile environment. Every fan in that crowd was against him. They were respectful, but it was a tough atmosphere, they were loud and playing against a very accomplished opponent who is very impressive. Ethan just came up with a clutch shot time after time, and it was really fun to be a part of that match with Ethan and just see his game from up close. I’ve seen him from afar and on TV, but to be there and see his weapons was really fun for me.”
Quinn’s victory came after teammate Tommy Paul put the United States up 1-0 in the opener with a 7-6 (3), 6-3 win over Zsombor Piros. The best-of-five match series was clinched on Sunday, the second of two days of play, when Christian Harrison, fresh off his doubles win at the Australian Open and also making his Davis Cup debut, paired with Austin Krajicek to defeat Piros and Marozsan 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. Emilio Nava, playing the fourth match as a “dead rubber” also in a Davis Cup debut, made the final score of 4-0 with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Matyas Fuele.
Quinn’s 24-point tiebreaker equaled the longest tiebreaker played in a U.S. Davis Cup match.Andy Roddick and Croatia’s Ivan Ljubicic, in the 2005 World Group First Round in Carson, Calif., also played a 24-point tiebreaker, Roddick losing the match 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(11), 6-7(7), 6-2 and Jim Courier and Brazil’s Gustavo Kuerten in the 1997 World Group First Round in Ribeirao Preto, Brazil, Courier winning the match 6-3, 6-2, 5-7, 7-6(11). Quinn’s four match points saved is still 14 match points saved shy of the U.S. Davis Cup and all-time record set by Wilmer Allison, who saved 18 match points when he taly’s Giorgio de Stefani 4-6, 7-9, 6-4, 8-6, 10-8, in the 1930 Inter-Zonal Zone Final in Paris, France. Barry MacKay saved eight match points, the second-most in U.S. Davis Cup history, when he defeated Italy’s Nicola Pietrangeli 8-6, 3-6, 8-10, 8-6, 13-11, in the 1960 Inter-Zonal Zone Final.
The U.S. will next face Czechia in September in the final-round of the Davis Cup qualifiers in a rematch of the qualifying final round from 2025 where Czechia defeated the USA 3-2 in Delray Beach, Florida, that you can read about here https://worldtennismagazine.com/jakub-mensik-after-five-hours-31-minutes-on-court-over-two-days-finishes-czechias-3-2-marathon-davis-cup-upset-over-the-united-states/26097
