A year after sitting out the Davis Cup calendar in order to zero in on the Slams, Andy Roddick says he will return to the Davis Cup fold in 2011.
Under newly minted captain Jim Courier, the U.S will face Chile in the World Group First Round on a red clay court in Santiago, Chile, March 4-6.
“I’m very excited to be back,” said Roddick. “I’ve always said that Davis Cup is something you should commit to for the entire season and not when it is convenient. Trying to win the Davis Cup again is a top priority for me in 2011. Nothing compares to the atmosphere of playing a Davis Cup match and representing your country.”
“Having Andy commit to the 2011 campaign is huge for our team,” said Courier. “Andy not only brings his outstanding Davis Cup record but also his experience and team leadership which will be invaluable to our efforts. On a personal note, I’m very excited to get the opportunity to sit on the bench with Andy and help him continue to perform at his very best on the Davis Cup stage.”
Roddick holds a 31-11 record in Davis Cup play (all singles matches) and is second all-time with most U.S. Davis Cup singles victories (behind John McEnroe with 41). He is second all-time in most consecutive years played on the U.S. Davis Cup team, competing for nine years from 2001-09 (tied with Todd Martin and behind McEnroe, who competed for 11 consecutive years). Roddick helped lead the U.S. to its first Davis Cup title since 1995 when they defeated Russia in the 2007 Davis Cup Final. He has competed in 23 total ties (fifth all-time among U.S. players) and has played in 42 total Davis Cup matches for the U.S. (fourth all-time).
In October, Courier succeeded Patrick McEnroe, the longest-tenured captain in U.S. Davis Cup history, and a man who was at the helm for Roddick’s entire Cup career.
“I look forward to working with Jim next season,” said Roddick. “It’ll be strange to be sitting next to someone other than Patrick on the bench, but I have a great deal of respect for Jim. He is a fierce competitor and I know he holds Davis Cup in the same esteem that I do. He had so many memorable Davis Cup victories, but the one that will always stick with me most is when he clinched the title for the U.S. in ‘92 since I was in Ft. Worth to see that match in person as a kid.”
