U.S. opens Davis Cup quest at Croatia
By HAL BOCK
AP Sports Writer
October 3, 2002
Don’t look for old pals Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi on the United States Davis Cup team when America resumes competition for the tennis trophy next February.
“It’s time to pass the baton completely. It’s time for all of us to go forward and stop asking if these guys are going to play. It’s time to move on.”
It’s likely that McEnroe will select young players like James Blake and Andy Roddick, who shared the singles responsibilities when the United States lost 3-2 to France in this year’s Cup semifinals at Paris. Roddick lost both his matches, while Blake split his singles matches and won the doubles with Todd Martin.
Also on McEnroe’s list of possible players are youngsters like Taylor Dent and Mardy Fish. He could tap twins Bill and Mike Bryan for doubles duties.
Croatia is likely to have former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic back for the matches against the United States, set for Feb. 7-9. Ivanisevic, who had left shoulder surgery last May and has not played any tennis since April, began training this week.
Ivanisevic called the United States a “very attractive rival — and also a very good and dangerous rival,” and said he hoped to play, at least in doubles. “However, with or without me, it will be very hard to beat” the Americans, he said.
Also expected to play for Croatia are Ivan Ljubcic, ranked No. 37 in the world, and Mario Ancic, who defeated Roger Federer in the first round at Wimbledon this year.
McEnroe said it would be good to have Ivanisevic return for the Cup matches.
“I’d love to see him back,” he said. “It would be great for the game. It will be huge, regardless.”
The draw places the United States on the road throughout the Cup quest, and McEnroe thought the experience gained by playing the semifinals in Paris would help his young team.
“Going to anywhere is tough, especially now in Davis Cup because there are so many great players and a lot more strong countries out there,” he said.
The United States-Croatia winner faces Spain or Belgium in the quarterfinals set for April 4-6. The semifinals will be played Sept. 19-21 and the 2003 finals on Nov. 28-30.
France, which will face Russia on Nov. 29-Dec. 1 in this year’s final, will play at Romania in the opening round next year.
The other pairings from Thursday’s draw with the home team listed first:
Romania vs. France; Netherlands vs. Switzerland; Australia vs. Britain; Sweden vs. Brazil; Spain vs. Belgium; Argentina vs. Germany; Czech Republic vs. Russia.
The United States, the winner of a record 31 Davis Cup titles, last reached the final in 1997 and has not won the event since 1995.