John Peers was unable to disguise his disappointment at being overlooked for Australia’s Davis Cup semi-final against Great Britain after also falling short in the US Open final at Flushing Meadows.
Peers and Scot Jamie Murray had their grand slam hopes dashed for a second straight major with a 6-4 6-4 loss to 12th seeds Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues, who became the first all-French team to claim the men’s doubles title in New York.
But while Murray will head to Glasgow to almost certainly partner his superstar brother Andy next week in what looms as a potentially decisive doubles rubber against Australia, Peers is shattered by his omission from Australia’s four-man line-up.
Despite Peers and Murray, who also lost the Wimbledon decider in July, being the first duo other than the top-ranked and record-setting Bryan brothers to reach back-to-back grand slam doubles since 2010, Australian captain Wally Masur couldn’t find room for the 27-year-old.
Masur has stuck with long-time spearhead Lleyton Hewitt and Sam Groth, the heroes of Australia’s quarter-final escape against Kazakhstan in Darwin, as his preferred doubles option to face the Brits in the indoor tie starting next Friday.
“It’s tough to not get picked, especially since I’m the highest ranked doubles player by quite a long way,” Peers said.
“They obviously think they have a team that can win and (I’ve) got to give them the best of luck.
“Yeah, it’s disappointing. I’ll just keep trying to do what I can do on my own bat and probably turn towards the Olympics next year.”
Peers’ stance softened on Saturday after last week suggesting his allegiance would be torn between supporting his touring doubles partner and Australia.
But despite not offering the versatility of Hewitt and Groth, who both also notched must-win last-day victories after winning the doubles against the Kazakhs, Peers said “yes and no” when asked if he understood why he wasn’t picked for Glasgow.
“At the end of the day, doubles is going to come down to a pretty important match at this tie,” he said.
“It’s a little disheartening that I’m not even taken as a fifth to see what could have happened.
“But I can’t really do more than what I’m doing. Maybe win a slam.
“Besides that, I’m getting pretty close … I have been doing pretty well and putting my hand up enough times, so hopefully next year maybe get a chance at that.”
Murray believes Peers should have been picked.
“I mean, he’s their best doubles player,” he said. “So, yeah, I guess he should be playing.
“But they obviously think they have a team that can win and I guess we’ll find out next weekend who’s better.”
