NOTTINGHAM, Great Britain – Team USA led by Nick Taylor, Shocker men's tennis volunteer assistant coach, won its way to the finals of the Invacare World Team Cup, but fell in the championship match to host team Great Britain on Sunday.  

Known as the “Davis Cup” of the International Wheelchair Tennis, the 25th Invacare World Team Cup hosted by Great Britain consisted of 33 teams and 187 athletes.

Weather threatened much of the tournament as the championship match scheduled for Saturday was moved to Sunday. Although both Taylor and teammate David Wagner jumped out to early leads against their British counterparts, neither could hold their lead. Taylor lost 6-1, 2-6, 2-6 while Wagner fell, 5-7, 6-7, making the doubles match irrelevant.

Taylor and company found themselves in the final match after overthrowing Israel in the semi-finals on Thursday, 2-0. In singles play, Taylor triumphed, 7-6 (2), 6-1 and teammate David Wagner did the same. With the match already decided and impending weather, no doubles match was played.

Taylor and his American teammates set themselves up for success by sweeping their pool play competition. They opened the tournament against Canada where both Taylor and teammate David Wagner picked up singles victories. Taylor won by a     6-1, 6-0 margin at the No. 2 singles position before the pair took the doubles point, 6-2, 6-1.

Team USA repeated their performance against Japan in the second round of pool play with a 3-0 victory. Taylor easily defeated his Japanese counterpart, 6-0, 6-1. In doubles action, Taylor teamed up with Brian Barten, 6-1, 6-0.

The third and final pool-play match against The Netherlands landed the American team in the semi-finals. Although Taylor lost his singles match, he and Wagner went on to secure the doubles point, 6-1, 6-2, and the 2-1 victory over the defending champions.

-Wichita State-