Davis Cup Recap

Last weekend Team USA headed to Leuven, Belgium, with a very difficult task ahead of them. After losing to a strong Croatian team in the first round (a team which will now contest the Davis Cup final for the first time) the USA had to play a world group play off match against Belgium. As if the caliber of the Belgian team, which included the Rochus brothers, wasn’t enough, the tie was to be played on clay, the USA’s least favorite surface.

Led by Patrick McEnroe, Andy Roddick, James Blake and Bob and Mike Bryan represented the USA. They went into the tie with a strong chance, but they knew it was never going to be easy. Commenting before the tie Andy said, “By no means are we underestimating the Belgian team. We’re going to have to play very well to win this tie.”

Unfortunately Team USA did not get the start they wanted. Belgian’s number one player Olivier Rochus came out and played a great match to beat US Open quarter finalist James Blake 6-4, 7-5, 6-1. Blake just could not find the answers against his diminutive opponent, “He played defense really well,” Blake said, “and negated a lot of my good shots”.

However, Andy was on hand to level the tie for the Americans. He disposed of Olivier’s older brother Christophe for the loss of just six games, 6-1, 6-2, 6-3. Andy knew he had to win after Blake’s match and rose to the challenge superbly. “I felt good out there from the start”, commented Andy. “I was able to take control from the beginning of every set”.

Andy’s win meant that the teams were tied at 1-1 at the end of the first day with the doubles rubber to come on the Saturday. This match saw US Open champions Bob and Mike Bryan pitched against Olivier Rochus and Kristof Vliegen. The Bryans have an outstanding Davis Cup record having only ever lost one match before and they did not disappoint. With a customary chest pump the twins closed out the match 6-3, 6-7(2), 6-1, 6-3 and gave the USA a 2-1 advantage going into the final day.

In the first of the reverse singles matches Andy won the tie for the USA, but unfortunately the match will probably be remembered for entirely different reasons. It was a very closely fought match between Andy and Olivier Rochus, both giving it all they had for their country. At two sets all, the pair took the match into a deciding fifth set where, serving at 2-3, Rochus found himself down 15-40. A very controversial line call on the first of the break points saw Andy break the Belgian’s serve to lead 4-2. Rochus had hit an overhead close to the sideline, believing the ball to be good Rochus failed to hear the lines-woman call the ball out and was thus astounded to hear he had lost the game.

What was doubly frustrating for the Belgium team was that no mark could be found for the call, meaning it had to stand. Throughout the arguments on court, an exhausted Andy sat on the bench as the lines-woman, chair umpire, and Belgian coach debated the call. Having asked his captain if he’d seen the call, which he had not, there was nothing else Andy could do.

It was an unfortunate way for Andy to break serve, but he handled the rest of the match tremendously. Having to endure the jeers of the Belgian crowd every time he missed a first serve or missed a shot, Andy fought hard and eventually crossed the finish line winning the fifth set 6-3. This gave the USA an unassailable 3-1 lead in the tie securing their place in the world group. However, Andy was very respectful after the match. There were no on court celebrations, his team mates came on to quietly congratulate him then they left court very quickly. “To be honest, after what happened, it would have been unprofessional to go on and on,” Roddick said. “The team came on court, but I said, ‘Let’s get out of here.’ It wouldn’t be right (to celebrate on court), especially because you don’t want that quality a match to end like that. If we celebrate as a team in a small little room, then we do. But I didn’t feel that was the right time or place to go on.”

Team USA can now turn their attentions to the 2006 world group competition, the draw for which will be made on Thursday. Looking ahead to next year, Captain McEnroe said, “We’re excited to be back in it. Davis Cup is obviously important to these guys. To know that we have a chance next year is exciting for us. I think we’re one of the favorites. By no means are we THE favorite. With the depth in Davis Cup, you have to be ready every match. We found that out this year. The team we lost to is now in the Finals. There are a lot of great countries out there. We’re looking forward to seeing who we play”.

Go USA!