Patrick McEnroe doesn't know the who, what or where for the
United States' Davis Cup qualifier against India in September.
One thing the U.S. captain is pretty sure of, though: Andre
Agassi and Pete Sampras won't play.
"I have not had any discussions with individual guys committing
them to this match. A lot can happen between now and then,"
McEnroe said Wednesday.
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DAVIS CUP DRAW
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The United States drew India for its Davis Cup tie on Sept. 21-23. Winners will secure places in the 2002 World Group -- containing the top 16 nations -- while the losers will compete in their zonal group next year. The draws:
x-Spain (c) vs. Uzbekistan
x-United States (c) vs. India
x-Argentina (c) vs. Belarus
x-Britain vs. Ecuador (c)
x-Belgium (c) vs. Morocco
x-Italy (c) vs. Croatia
x-Slovakia (c) vs. Chile
x-Czech Republic (c) vs. Romania
x-denotes seed, c-choice of venue)
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"I will certainly talk to all the players, as I've been doing
since I became the captain. That includes Sampras and Agassi. I
don't expect that they will play, but I'll certainly talk to
them."
The United States was matched with India in a draw Wednesday in
London. The winner of their best-of-5 encounter Sept. 21-23 will
play in the World Group in 2002; the loser drops down to zonal
competition.
Agassi and Sampras, who have won six of the past eight major
singles titles and a total of 20 overall, didn't participate when
the United States lost to Switzerland in February in the first
round of World Group play in this year's Davis Cup.
That was McEnroe's debut as captain, replacing brother John, who
also had trouble getting two of the world's elite players to
compete in the team competition.
"Well, as far as getting the top players to play, there's only
so much that any individual can do," Patrick McEnroe said. "If
they don't want to play, they're not going to play."
McEnroe added that Agassi, who has been practicing with 18-year-old Andy Roddick, and Sampras, who has been practicing with 19-year-old Taylor Dent, are providing invaluable instruction.
"Even if those guys never play another Davis Cup match again," McEnroe said. "I
think the fact that they're doing that is a huge, you know, testament to how
much they do care and do care about the future of Davis Cup and American
players in particular."
McEnroe said that future will include Roddick.
"I think he's got the
potential to be a legitimate top-10, top-5 player," McEnroe said, listing
Jan-Michael Gambill, Dent and Mardy Fish also as possible
selections to face India.
"The young players are certainly eager to play and will play if
and when called upon," McEnroe said. "I've said from the moment I
got the job that I want players there who want to be there. Despite
what the rankings say, if you have players there who are not 100
percent committed to the team it doesn't work out."
As host, the United States gets to choose where to play the
matches and on which surface, decisions which have to be made by
May 2. Among the cities being considered are Savannah, Ga.; Dallas;
Miami; Winston-Salem, N.C.; Louisville, Ky.; Scottsdale, Ariz.;
Delray Beach, Fla.; and Wesley Chapel, Fla.
McEnroe ruled out playing on grass, adding, "More likely than
not we'll play on a relatively slow hard court or on clay."
The United States owns a 6-0 Davis Cup record against India. Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories |
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AUDIO/VIDEO
 Davis Cup captain Patrick McEnroe is aware of the significance of the next Davis Cup tie.
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