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CONVINCES
TENNISREPORTERS.NET
McEnroe
supports resuming Davis Cup play
By
Sandra Harwitt
tennisreporters.net
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Ron
Cioffi
tennisreporters.net
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Only
a couple of weeks ago, this tennisreporters.net correspondent
questioned whether the Davis Cup should go on this year following
the Sept. 11th terrorist attacks on the United States. It was
my suggestion at the time that tennis follow the lead of golf
that canceled this year’s Ryder Cup, a team competition between
countries.
My
conclusion was that having countries play against each other in
these times, even in a friendly contest, was not the best judgment
immediately after the terrorist bombings.
In a telephone conversation this past week with tennisreporters.net,
U.S. Davis Cup captain Patrick McEnroe presented a differing and
sensible opinion why the Davis Cup should continue on this season.
The tie is scheduled for this weekend – Friday,
Oct. 12 through Sunday, Oct. 14 – in
Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
McEnroe,
an articulate and intelligent individual with a degree from Stanford,
leads an American squad against India this coming weekend in a
qualifying tie that was postponed from September after the bombing
of the World Trade Center and Pentagon. The U.S. needs to emerge
the victors from this qualifying tie – they are considered
the overwhelming favorites – to play in the prestigious Davis
Cup World Group in 2002 and a chance to win the coveted Cup.
“It’s
going to be tough to cheer, but hopefully, enough time has passed
since this horrible situation,” McEnroe said. “It’s
time for us to get back on the court and do our thing. They’ve
asked everyone to get back to their lives and our job is playing
tennis. The Davis Cup concept is to bring countries together and
promote good will in the international community.”
Let’s
hope that tennis fans in Winston-Salem show up and show their
patriotic spirit. The truth is that the American public has rarely
displayed a major interest in the Davis Cup, something of an anomaly
considering Americans love team sports. Apparently, Americans
see tennis as an individual sport and have a hard time grasping
the racket game in a team competition scenario. Except for the
2000 second round tie where the U.S. won a tough victory over
the Czech Republic at the old LA Forum, this writer has never
witnessed a Davis Cup on U.S. soil where the fans seemed vigorously
interested in the proceedings.
This
coming weekend is an ideal opportunity for fans to show their
American pride and also learn to love Davis Cup. Without a doubt,
years of experience has proven that some of the most intriguing
tennis moments I’ve encountered have been Davis Cup moments.
VETS
ROUND OUT TEAM, KIDS ON THE SIDELINES
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Fred
Mullane
Camerawork USA, Inc.
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McEnroe
is taking a versatile team to North Carolina – teen sensation
Andy Roddick, Davis Cup stalwart Todd Martin and Wimbledon champions
Donald Johnson and Jared Palmer – to face an Indian squad.
Also accompanying the American team will be former Harvard student
James Blake and 2000 U.S. Open junior finalist Robby Ginepri.
On the heels of a semifinal performance in Tokyo last week, Blake
has built a very strong case that he should slip into a singles
spot in favor of Martin, a two-time Grand Slam finalist. According
to McEnroe, Martin graciously agreed to join the squad knowing
that he might be relegated to practice partner and a cheering
role on the sidelines.
“I
think the health of Todd’s body will be at issue,” said
McEnroe, noting that Martin’s had numerous injuries the past
few years. “It will an issue physically, if Todd’s ready
to play best-of-five sets at this stage. The delay in playing
the tie has given Todd time to practice and I understand he’s
been working really hard the last few weeks.”
The
Indian team will rely heavily on Leander Paes, who will play both
single and doubles, to carry their fortune. Paes and partner,
Mahesh Bhupathi, won their second Roland Garros title this past
June and also captured the Wimbledon trophy in 1999 – the
very reason why the doubles point is considered the one match
where the U.S. is not a clear-cut favorite.
DOUBLES
DILEMMA
With
the doubles being such an important match in the tie, McEnroe
gave a great deal of consideration in his selection of Johnson-Palmer
over the twins Mike and Bob Bryan. There were those that anticipated
McEnroe would take a very young team to Winston-Salem, but common
sense dictated that the captain select the best squad with the
better credentials. The selection allows the 33-year-old Johnson,
a journeyman whose spent a great deal of his career hearing he’s
not the real Don Johnson since that distinction belongs to the
actor, his first opportunity to play on a Davis Cup team for his
country.
“I
watched both teams playing a lot of tennis this summer and there’s
no doubt that the Bryan’s have made a lot of progress as
a team,” McEnroe said. “But I know tennis pretty well
and at this time, Johnson-Palmer are just the better team. Results
don’t lie and in a pressure situation, I want to go in with
the guys I think can perform the best. Don and Jared won Wimbledon
and got to the final of the U.S. Open and they are legitimately
the better team. Part of me was thinking wouldn’t it be great
if Don gets a chance to play Davis Cup in his career, but I can
say he definitely earned it the old-fashioned way.”
McEnroe
is heading into the upcoming weekend with the knowledge his team
is considered the favorites, but will not allow his team the luxury
of taking the relegation tie lightly. Having played on an American
squad that went to India, McEnroe is very aware that Paes has
posted some impressive singles results in Davis Cup action.
One
thing McEnroe is hoping for is that his eager team rouses the
crowd to their feet with a resounding chorus of “USA! USA!”
every chance they get.
“I
believe this is the first major sporting event in this country
where athletes are playing for our country – playing for
the USA,” McEnroe said. “From that perspective, I hope
we play well and represent the country well.”
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