DAVIS CUP SEMIS PREVIEW

Can Belarus and France stop a dream US-Spain final?
Roddick: 'One thing that's still alive this year [for me] is this title'

By Matthew Cronin, TennisReporters.net

Art Seitz

Bob and Mike Bryan

If you think of all the most attractive scenarios for every tournament and event over the past year, it's been rare when in the end, the titans clashed. But that could happen in the '04 Davis Cup final if the US and Spain play to form.

On Friday, the heavily favored United States will face Belarus and the equally weighted Spain will confront France. Unless Andy Roddick and the Bryan Brothers completely implode, the US should win the tie 3-1. The same goes with Spain, who behind Carlos Moya and Juan Carlos Ferrero on clay, shouldn't lose to France at home in Alicante.

But think back to the US Open, when the best scenario would have been for Roddick to meet Lleyton Hewitt in the semis. Roddick melted down in the firth set of his loss to Joachim Johansson, and all expectations of a chest-pounder v. a fist-pumper was dashed. Much of the world wants to see Roddick and the boys have to trudge to the muddy clay in either Madrid or Sevilla in the final. Ferrero v. Roddick on dirt in a final would certainly have historical significance (as would Carlos Moya v. Andre Agassi should the US legend chance his mind and decide to play).

For Roddick, a Davis Cup victory is the only thing that would put a little icing on what has been a Slam-less, rather mundane year for him. The same goes for Ferrero, who's been virtually non-existent due to injuries and illness.

"Coming into this year I wanted to win a major and I wanted to have a shot at being No. 1," Roddick said. "There a lot of things that I wanted, but they are just not in the cards for me as far as this year goes. But one thing that's still alive this year is this title. This is where I am at, this is definitely the most important thing left for me as for as tennis goes this year."

YOUNG AMERICANS TAKE ON OLD-TIMERS
Roddick will play the talented yet seemingly semi-retired Vladimir Voltchkov at the Family Circle Tennis Center in Charleston, S.C., and then Mardy Fish will face Max Mirnyi, a dangerous yet always beatable veteran.

Like Roddick, Fish could use a big win or two. While he had a terrific run to the Olympic final, Fish certainly should have won his tussle with Nicolas Massu. Plus, his early-round defeat at the Open was embarrassing. Fish has never been a consistently good pressure player, which is why Mirnyi thinks his squad has a shot at an upset.

"The fact that they are playing at home, they are expected to win," Mirnyi said. "There will be much more support for them so that makes it much tougher for them to play. They must feel like they are under pressure."

Mostly due to Mike Bryan's sore hip (surgery could be forthcoming), the Bryans had a lousy summer on hardcourts. But Mike says he's feeling fine this week, which is great news for the US team because without the healthy righty, the formidable paring of Mirnyi/Voltchkov could steal the crucial doubles point.

"I look forward to playing against them they are one of the better teams out there and this is a great opportunity for us to face such a strong team under tough circumstances, we are going to do everything in our power to do well and win the match," Mirnyi said.

This will be Roddick and US captain Patrick McEnroe's second Davis Cup semifinal. Two years ago, they fell to France at Roland Garros. This year, they have a far better chance of advancing to the final and maybe, just maybe, convicting Agassi to give it one last go in Davis Cup in the final.

"My goal is to get us back in the running to win the Davis Cup every year, and have a real good shot at winning it every year," McEnroe said. "I think we are in that position now. We have a group of guys who are real passionate about winning this."

Susan Mullane/ Camerawork USA

Fabrice Santoro is off and on the French team.

Forget's Santoro Surprise
Over at the Plaza de Toros de Alicante, French captain Guy Forget pulled a radical move and will attempt to play the 31-year-old Fabrice "he's not a team player" Santoro three times. Forget booted Santoro off the team earlier this year for insubordination. But with Seb Grosjean and Nicolas Escude sidelined with injuries and Arnaud Clement in a singles slump, Forget had few choices.

"I owe it to the tie to pick my best players on the first day and Fabrice is playing best at the moment," said Forget. "I realize many people will be surprised, but to me it is a justifiable decision."

While Santoro has been on fire this summer, he'll still be an underdog against Juan Carlos Ferrero, who showed some signs of life at the US Open. "Nobody can be confident about playing Ferrero on clay. No one player in the world can be sure to beat him, but I've played well in practice in the last few days, and that's why I'll be on the court," Santoro said.

The tie begins with Moya going up against the up and down Paul-Henri Mathieu, who recently lost a thrilling five-setter to Sargis Sargsian at the Open. Moya has won eight straight matches in Davis Cup. On Saturday, the elite, regular team of Santoro/Michael Llodra will face US Open semifinalists Rafael Nadal/Tommy Robredo. Then it's the reverse singles, where marathon man Santoro will try to rediscover the energy he had in late May, when he was able to win a six-hour plus five-setter at Roland Garros.