Roddick, Blake relish underdog role against Spain
by MATTHEW CRONIN, tennisreporters.net
Now Andy Roddick, James Blake and Bob and Mike Bryan must prove that they are a Davis Cup team for the ages by defeating the mighty clay court nation Spain on Continental dirt, as Spain shut out Germany in Bremen.
A U.S. semifinal victory might seem like a near impossible task, given that world No. 2 and three-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal plays for that squad, as does world No. 5 David Ferrer. As potential backups, French captain Emilio Sanchez can call upon two other former Roland Garros victors, Carlos Moya and Juan Carlos Ferrero, for that September tango.
"They are a great team with great history, but I was hoping to play them because I think it's such a great challenge," U.S. captain Patrick McEnroe said. "We will go over with a lot to play for and as the underdog, but it's a great opportunity for us. We have to lay it on the line in tough conditions and compete our butts off."
The only place the U.S. will have an advantage is in doubles, as the Bryans — out-thought by France's Michael Llodra and Arnaud Clement in North Carolina for only their second loss in 16 Davis Cup matches — have won the French Open before and are clearly a better team that any Spain can trot out. Plus, the last time that the U.S. visited Spain (in the 2004 final) the Bryans were the only men to score a live point, as Roddick lost both his matches to Nadal and Moya, and the No. 2 singles player Mardy Fish also fell to Moya.
But this is a different U.S. team now — more experienced, mature and sporting improved weaponry. Neither Roddick nor Blake are comfortable on dirt, but at least Roddick has scored a couple of notable wins on clay over the past year and he seems to be relishing the opportunity of standing toe to toe with the Spaniards.
And why not? In Winston Salem, N.C., Roddick clinched his third tie in the past six for the U.S. On Friday, he survived the red-hot serving of lefty Michael Llodra, a late replacement for Australian Open finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who has knee injury. Then he destroyed Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-2, 6-3, 6-2, to put the U.S. into the semis.
Roddick improved to 10-0 when given the opportunity to clinch ties, and now can be called one of the best U.S. Davis Cup closers in history. Not only did he bomb 47 aces in two matches, but he adeptly mixed up his attack, especially off his backhand side, giving Mathieu a number of low, skidding slices that confounded the Frenchman.
"Today Andy showed really how much he's improved," McEnroe said. "He was able to attack and play defense. It shows how he's developed as a player."
Mathieu was replacement for top French player Richard Gasquet, who opted out the first day against Roddick with blisters. Gasquet is the same man who stunned Roddick last year at Wimbledon.
It's hard to say whether a healthy Gasquet would have been able to beat Roddick had he answered French captain Guy Forget's request to sub for Mathieu on Sunday, but he likely would have done a little bit better. In a completely bizarre decision, Gasquet then decided to play the dead rubber against Blake.
While Roddick's two wins keyed the victory, Blake must be given tremendous credit for his performance on Friday, when he fought off two match points against Mathieu in winning just the third five-set match of his career. Believe it or not, all those wins have come against French players.
With the tie against Spain five months away, the players will turn their attention back to the ATP Tour. But Blake and Roddick gained a good measure of confidence over the weekend and maybe in the next two months, and as the tour switches to clay, they can keep improving their abilities on dirt.
Because from here out there will be no more home ties for America. Russia and Argentina will contest the other semifinal, and even if the U.S. shocks Spain, McEnroe's team is due to travel to either of those nations for their next matches. Given that both Russia and Argentina just won home ties on clay behind the talented likes of Marat Safin, Nikolay Davydenko, David Nalbandian and Guillermo Canas, rest assured they will roll out damp, spongy clay should the U.S. visit.
But first things first for the U.S. team, which includes a long post-U.S. Open plane ride to Spain where dreams of turning matches into fast-paced rumbles will surely dance in their heads. Last year, the Americans elbowed Spain on a fast indoor court in Winston Salem. This year, Nadal and Co. will invite the five-hour marathon.
"We're going to have to get dirty out there," said Roddick. "Even if they put down a surface I don't like, I think I'll be there."
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