BASEL, Switzerland -- Patrick McEnroe's debut as U.S. Davis
Cup captain was half successful.
|  | | Patrick McEnroe's team is tied 1-1 with Switzerland. |
The Americans split their first two matches against Switzerland
Friday, as Jan-Michael Gambill won and Todd Martin lost.
The 19-year-old Roger Federer defeated Martin 6-4, 7-6 (3), 4-6,
6-1, then Gambill beat Michel Kratochvil 6-3, 7-5, 6-4.
In Saturday's doubles, Gambill and Jason Gimelstob are scheduled
to face Federer and Lorenzo Manta, although the captains can make
last-minute changes. In Sunday's reverse singles, Martin is to play
Kratochvil and Gambill is to face Federer. McEnroe hinted he might
substitute Andy Roddick, the world's top junior last year.
Afterward, the Americans said they were better prepared under
the younger McEnroe than they were under his more renowned brother
John.
McEnroe, with stars Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras skipping the
event, brought a young team including Gambill, 23; Gimelstob, 24;
and Roddick, 18, to this best-of-five series. He hoped Martin, 30,
would be the anchor.
It did not work out that way.
In winning his second Davis Cup match win in five tries, Gambill
served 10 aces to four for Kratochvil and had only two double
faults.
"It's a lot of fun, that's No. 1," McEnroe said of his debut.
"It's great to see someone like Jan-Michael go out there with a
lot of expectations and live up to them."
"To me, just to be part of these guys and be around them, to
try to be not too much of a hindrance to them on the sideline ...
is enjoyable. I'm a lot happier now after the first win."
Gambill said Patrick McEnroe was "saying all the right
things."
Martin agreed. "There's a time to speak, there's a time not
to," he said.
Gambill said the team was more prepared than last year in a 5-0
semifinal loss to Spain.
"I think so," he said. "We had smarter practices. ... Patrick
told us early who's going to play. ... That's peace of mind.
"I blocked out the cowbells," he added, referring to the
traditional Swiss clangers.
Martin needed back treatment in the fourth set when he felt pain
in his lower back, though he didn't offer it as an excuse.
"I played well today compared to most of my (Davis Cup)
losses," said Martin, 11-10 in Davis Cup singles. "I didn't play
flawless tennis, but for the most part I put the ball in Roger's
court and a lot of the time he came up with what he needed."
For most of the match, Federer showed fans in his hometown the
form that brought him his first ATP Tour title last week at Milan
and the world junior title in 1998.
"It's one of the top victories I have," said Federer, who
hammered backhand and forehand passes, stretched for saves and
surprised Martin with several deft lobs.
"Playing in Basel, in Davis Cup and everything together, just
gives it a great mixture. The most important thing is I got the
first point for the team. ... There were a lot of friends watching,
my family is here. It's nice."
Martin's injury appeared to be a hyperextension of his lower
back. He hopes to play Sunday.
In the second set, Federer slammed a backhand down the line to
end a long rally and lead 2-0. Then he made it 3-0, stretching in
desperation to lob a backhand deep that Martin barely reached. He
won two straight points off backhand, crosscourt winners to lead
6-3, celebrating the second with clenched fists.
To finish the set, Federer stroked a forehand inside-out shot
that had Martin going the wrong way on the indoor carpet.
"I don't think he could have played much better than he did in
the tiebreak," Martin said.
Federer dictated the tempo in the fourth set, breaking Martin in
the second game. Martin took a medical timeout after the third game
because of his back pain.
After that, Federer broke Martin again in the sixth game to lead
5-1 and won the 2-hour, 45-minute match with his 17th ace,
celebrating by volleying balls into the crowd of 4,500.
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Russia, Slovakia split singles matches
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Patrick McEnroe says Andy Roddick has been incredible in practice all week.
avi: 1107 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
 Jan-Michael Gambill recounts Friday's match with Switerland's Michel Kratochvil.
wav: 131 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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