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US
v. Spain Davis Cup Final
Americans are underdogs … but rabid
Roddick: "None of us have won
a Grand Slam title this year,
so we really want to compensate for that'
By Matthew Cronin, TennisReporters.net
FROM THE DAVIS CUP FINAL IN SEVILLE,
SPAIN – It's been a very satisfying year for US Davis Cup
Captain Pat McEnroe's rapidly evolving team. Andy Roddick has
been nails at No. 1 singles and the Bryans brothers are undefeated
in doubles.
But really, the Dec. 3-5 final against
Spain on slow red clay at the Estadio Olympico in Seville is its
only huge test. If the US can win this tie, it will be the biggest
upset they've pulled in a final in 31 years, when they shocked
Australia in Melbourne.
Certainly, the US' win over Russia in Moscow in 1995 on clay was
huge, but Pete Sampras led that charge and he was then in the
midst of becoming the greatest player ever. The US doesn't have
such a player on the team this year.
Almost no one expects the US to win this coming weekend. Spanish
captain Jordi Arrese went as far as to say, "I would bet
anything on us winning – except my wife."
Most of the planet expects the slumping Mardy Fish to drop both
his matches, leaving Roddick with the very weighty task of taking
down dirt ball giants Juan Carlos Ferrero and Carlos Moya, and
Bob and Mike Bryan having coming through against the ever-improving
doubles duo of Tommy Robredo/Rafael Nadal.
"Andy and the Bryan brothers haven't even lost a set yet
(in a Davis Cup match) this year. We're extremely confident in
that aspect," Fish said. "We don't have to beat them
in an entire tournament. We don't even have to win five times;
all you need is three points."
But three points isn't like netting three free throws. It means
winning three matches on a surface the US has been flat out awful
on since 1999, when Andre Agassi won Roland Garros. Plus, Ferrero
is feeling better than he has all year. The former No. 1's body
is no longer aching, his form in practice against compatriot Moya
has been top notch and he's now used to playing with his new Head
racket. That spells trouble for Roddick, who will very likely
have to face off against Ferrero on Friday in what is the
critical match for the US.
The two have faced each other once before, in the '03 US Open
final, a contest Roddick handily won. But that was on a fairly
slick Ashe Stadium where Roddick was very much at home, not on
murky quicksand in front of 26,000 nationalistic Spaniards. When
Roddick foiled Ferrero, he was at the top of his game. While the
No. 2 player is certainly capable of raising his level again,
Roddick's poor showing against Lleyton Hewitt in the Tennis Masters
Cup semis a week and a half ago leaves a lot to be concerned about.
AMERICANS HAVE CRUSHED THE SPAINARDS
Roddick is 12-0 against the members of the Spanish team. However,
only one of those wins came on clay. Fish is 4-1 against the Spaniards.
That's why there is reason to hope.
"It is going to be cold conditions. The clay is going to
be slow and they are going to have 23,000 of their closest friends
there. So, definitely the cards are stacked against us,"
Roddick said. "But there'll be no surprises ... we know what
to expect."
Just because Ferrero says he's feeling spry and confident doesn't
mean that once he gets on court in a love match, he'll find his
form again. He's doubted his shots and his staying power all year
long. That kind of confidence doesn't come back in an instant;
it arrives after weeks of matches. That's why if Roddick takes
down Ferrero, there's reason to think that Spain's "G-3"
coaches – Juan Avendano, Jose Perlas and Arrese –
could call on the teenage Nadal for Sunday. Moya has not been
lights out this year either, but he's certainly played better
than Fish and is a much more accomplished player on clay.
If the court at the Estadio Olympico
is as slow as the Americans say it is, the US is in for a very
long weekend. Neither Fish nor Roddick are as steady as Ferrero
and Moya and although they can match them in the firepower department,
they are going to have to exhibit the type of patience never seen
from them before on dirt. They are going to have to get very creative
and play their guts out.
"It's pretty slow and the ball is not bouncing very high
and seems to be staying pretty low," said McEnroe. "We
are going to try and get used to the clay. We have to play our
game and adjust slightly to the court surface and our strategy
for the Spanish players who like to play on clay. We're not going
to be able to just hit through these guys in a five-set match.
We're going to have to do some of that, but we're going to have
to play smart."
Art Seitz |
| Bob and Mike Bryan |
Bob and Mike Bryan campaigned for a
spot on the team for two years and this year McEnroe saw fit to
give them a shot. But, that was only after they won a Slam and
became an elite team in 2003. After a mini-slump this summer,
which was somewhat due to an injury sustained by Mike, they recovered,
winning the tennis Masters Cup. But, without question, when McEnroe
named them to the team, he saw the '03 Roland Garros champs capabilities
on clay. He saw this match looming, which is why they have to
grab the critical third point for the US to succeed. "This
is going to be the biggest match of our lives," said Bob.
The only member of the team who can be
fairly satisfied with his overall year to date is McEnroe because
he did what he was expected to: get his team to the final. Outside
of Davis Cup, none of American players have had year to jump up
and down about. This victory would give them a reason to throw
a ticket-tape parade, which is why the tie will be much more competitive
than it looks from the outside.
"None of us have won a Grand Slam title this year,"
Roddick said . "So we really want to compensate for that
and come up with something special at the end. Davis Cup is just
so special that this is going to be a great occasion whatever
happens, but the difference between winning and losing will be
pretty huge. To win the Cup for the States with this young team
we have would be just awesome."
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