The U.S. Davis Cup team will look much as it has for 12 of the last 13 ties when it travels to Porec, Croatia for its July 10-12 quarterfinal on indoor clay at the Zatika Sports Hall.
While U.S. captain Patrick McEnroe’s decision to stand pat (no pun intended) by once again going with a lineup consisting of Andy Roddick, James Blake and the top-ranked doubles tandem of Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan was in some ways business as usual, many felt that, in light of Blake’s recent fall in the rankings (he’s slid to No. 17), it was high time he gave someone else a shot.
Yes, the Ivy Leaguer has always been there to answer PMac’s call, a loyal competitor who has compiled an impressive 21-10 record while representing the U.S. in 16 ties. But outside of the 29-year-old’s rise-to-the-occasion four-set win over Russia’s Mikhail Youzhny in ’07, a clutch performance that helped the U.S. bring home its first Davis Cup title in a dozen years, Blake hasn’t exactly developed a reputation as the go-to guy when everything’s on the line. Consider his aversion to five-set matches. Or that, despite his obvious abilities, he’s never reached a Slam semi. Or the fact that he has now crashed out in the first round of the last two Grand Slams.
Meanwhile, towering 21-year-old Sam Querrey, subbing for Blake last year in his Davis Cup debut on clay in a Madrid bullring, put up a fight against world No. 1 Rafa Nadal, taking the first set before falling 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 (talk about pressure). And Blake’s longtime pal Mardy Fish, after nearly falling out of the top 100 last year, has quietly worked his way back into the top 25, having reached the third round at the All England Club. Plus, the Floridian has beaten Blake in their last two head-to-head meetings, including a straight-sets decision in the third round of the ’08 U.S. Open.
But McEnroe’s not yet ready to give up on a guy who’s consistently answered the bell for him over the past seven years.
“Our guys have once again answered the call and are ready to accept the challenge of representing their country on the road under tough conditions,” said McEnroe, who has led the U.S. to a 16-7 record since taking over the team in ’01 and is now second all-time for most wins by a U.S. Davis Cup captain, trailing only Tom Gorman. “We are bringing our most experienced group to battle against a talented Croatia team and hope that can make the difference.”
This will be the third meeting between the U.S. and Croatia – the only nation the U.S. has yet to beat in Davis Cup play. Croatia last defeated the U.S. in ’05 in the first round on the hard courts of the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., when Ivan Ljubicic all but single-handedly took down what many viewed as an unbeatable foursome of Andre Agassi, Roddick and the Bryan Bros. The Croats also beat the U.S. in the first round in ’03, winning 4-1 on its home turf.
Wimbledon quarterfinalist Ivo Karlovic and Marin Cilic will represent Croatia, which last won the Davis Cup in ’05. The roster for their first-round match included Karlovic, Cilic, Mario Ancic and Roko Karanusic, though Ancic said he would not play in the Davis Cup quarters when he withdrew from Wimbledon.
The U.S. vs. Croatia winner will face either Argentina or the Czech Republic in the Davis Cup semis, Sept. 18-20. Should the U.S. defeat Croatia, the team would play on the road at Argentina or host the Czech Republic.
Roddick, 26, has a 31-11 record since joining the team in ’01. He has played in 23 Davis Cup ties, missing just one match since joining the team – the ’03 first round at Croatia after suffering a wrist injury during his epic five-set match against Younes El Aynaoui at the Australian Open. His 31 singles victories place him second all-time for the U.S. Davis Cup team; he surpassed Andre Agassi’s 30 singles victories during the ’09 first round win over Switzerland and now trails only John McEnroe (41).
