 |
|
|
|
|
|
Roddick, Blake, Ginepri, and Bryan twins make up U.S. Davis Cup squad
By Tim Curry // U.S. Tennis Association // September 7, 2005
FLUSHING, N.Y., September 7, 2005 - The USTA and U.S. Davis Cup Captain Patrick McEnroe today announced that Andy Roddick, James Blake, Robby Ginepri and the doubles team of Bob and Mike Bryan will comprise the U.S. squad that will travel to Belgium to compete in a Davis Cup World Group Playoff match on an indoor red clay court at Sportplace in Leuven, Belgium, September 23-25.
The United States must win this tie in order to remain in the 16-team World Group that will compete for the 2006 Davis Cup championship. Earlier this year, the United States lost to Croatia, 3-2, in the first round of the 2005 Davis Cup in Carson, Calif.
"We expect a tough match in Belgium on clay," said McEnroe. "Andy has been the stalwart of the team and the Bryans have been clutch in doubles for us lately. James and Robby have stepped up this summer and are playing exceptional tennis and we are glad to have them as part of the team for this tie."
Roddick, 23, and a resident of Austin, Texas, has a 15-6 Davis Cup record in singles since joining the team in 2001. The 2003 US Open champion is currently ranked No. 4 in the world. He has a 49-11 record this year, winning four singles titles on three different surfaces. Roddick hit a 155 mph serve - the fastest serve ever recorded - during Davis Cup play last year in the 4-0 U.S. victory over Belarus.
Blake, 25, and a resident of Tampa, Fla., is competing in the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career tonight against No. 7 seed Andre Agassi. Blake has an 8-3 overall record in Davis Cup (5-2 in singles; 3-1 in doubles), having represented the United States in five ties from 2001-03. Blake posted a 13-2 record on clay this year, winning consecutive USTA Pro Circuit titles in May and reaching the second round of the French Open. He won his second career ATP title two weeks ago at the Pilot Pen Tennis in New Haven.
Ginepri, 23, a resident of Marietta, Ga., is also competing in his first Grand Slam quarterfinal today against No. 8 Guillermo Coria. Ginepri is undefeated in two Davis Cup singles matches, helping the United States to a 5-0 sweep of Austria in the first round last year. He won his second career ATP singles title this summer at the US Open Series event in Indianapolis and reached his first ATP Masters Series semifinal this summer in Cincinnati.
Bob Bryan, 27, from Camarillo, Calif., made his Davis Cup debut in the 2003 World Group Playoff against Slovakia and holds a 5-1 Davis Cup record in doubles with his twin brother Mike Bryan. Bob and Mike won their first Grand Slam men's doubles title at the 2003 French Open, becoming the most successful brother doubles team in the Open era of professional tennis. The Bryan brothers have won 24 doubles titles as a team. He won mixed doubles titles at the 2003 and 2004 US Opens with Katarina Srebotnik and Vera Zvonareva, respectively.
Mike Bryan, 27, from Camarillo, Calif., won the 2002 US Open and 2003 French Open mixed doubles titles with Lisa Raymond, in addition to the 2003 French Open men's doubles title with brother Bob. Mike has won 26 career ATP doubles titles and, with his brother, won a bronze medal in men's doubles at the 1999 Pan American Games. The Bryans are the only brothers to pair in victory for the United States Davis Cup team.
The rivalry between the United States and Belgium in Davis Cup dates back to 1953, with the United States leading the series 3-0. In their last meeting, the United States defeated Belgium, 4-1, in the 1998 Davis Cup quarterfinal in Indianapolis. The other two meetings between the United States defeated Belgium were contested in Brisbane, Australia. The United States defeated Belgium in the Inter-Zonal Final in 1953 and 1957 and went on to lose to Australia in the Davis Cup Final both times.
Belgium, captained by Steven Martens, qualified for this year's Davis Cup World Group Playoff with a 3-2 victory over Serbia & Montenegro, clinching victory in the final rubber. This is the sixth consecutive year that Belgium has appeared in the World Group Playoffs but has only been successful on two of the previous five occasions, the last time in 2002.
|
|
|
 |
|
Enter your e-mail;
get free U.S. Olympic Team News
|
|
|
|
|
