TNT Sports
U.S. to claw back pride
By
Published 20/09/2004 at 10:15 GMT+1
Patrick McEnroe will be looking to the United States Davis Cup squad and Andy Roddick in particular, to restore some pride against Belarus in the semi-finals this weekend, following a bitterly disappointing showing at Flushing Meadows.
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Image credit: TNT Sports
The U.S., playing in Charleston, will be looking towards world number two Andy Roddick to lead them into their first Davis Cup final since 1997.
After relinquishing his U.S. Open crown earlier this month when he lost to Swede Joachim Johansson in the quarterfinals, Roddick is in need of some consolation as Switzerland's Roger Federer stretches his lead at the top of the men's game.
Roddick and Andre Agassi, who no longer makes himself available for Davis Cup duty, were the only two American men to get as far as the third round in New York and Roddick certainly carries America's hopes in Charleston, South Carolina.
The winner of the tie will meet either Spain or France, who are meeting in the other semi-final at Alicante, Spain, in the
Davis Cup final over the weekend of December 3-5.
Roddick is joined by Mardy Fish and doubles twins Mike and Bob Bryan for the World Group clash, which starts on Friday.
"GREAT OPPORTUNITY"
Fish, runner-up to Nicolas Massu in last month's Olympic singles final in Athens, got the nod ahead of Vince Spadea and Taylor Dent for the second singles berth.
"I believe in Mardy," U.S. captain Patrick McEnroe said earlier this month.
"I legitimately think he's a top-10 player and this is another great opportunity for him."
The Americans, who stayed at Roddick's residence in Austin, Texas for some team bonding, will have their work cut out against a Belarus team led by Max Mirnyi and Vladimir Voltchkov.
Mirnyi, a twice U.S. Open doubles champion, and 2000 Wimbledon semi-finalist Voltchkov will be joined by teenagers Andrei Karatchenia and Alexander Skrypko.
SPAIN ROLL OUT BIG GUNS
On the other side of the Atlantic, Spain have kept faith with the team that beat the Netherlands in the quarter-finals for their semi-final against France.
Carlos Moya and Juan Carlos Ferrero will play the singles with Tommy Robredo and Rafael Nadal renewing their partnership in the doubles rubber.
Spain, who won the Davis Cup in 2000, reached the final last year, losing to Australia in Melbourne.
On paper the Spaniards look strong favourites against a French team featuring Arnaud Clement, Paul-Henri Mathieu, Fabrice Santoro and Michael Llodra.
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