After a shaky start, the United States tennis team prevailed in the first round of Davis Cup play, held Feb. 10 through 12 at La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club, 2000 Spindrift Drive. The United States hosted Romania.
Day one was looking good for the United States. Andy Roddick, ranked No. 3 in the world, was off to a fast start against Andrei Pavel. Roddick won the first two sets, 7-6, 6-4. Pavel rallied back and won the third set, 7-6. Things then took a turn for the worse for the U.S. Roddick lost serve to open the fourth set, called for a medical timeout and preceded to vomit on the court. He then lost the fourth set, 6-2. In almost déjà vu style, the fifth set got off to the same rocky start. Roddick found himself down 5-1 in the fifth, rallied back to 5-4, but it was not to be ” Pavel held serve to win the match, 6-4.
The second match of day one saw the U.S. send out James Blake to play Victor Hanescu of Romania. Blake had the eye of the tiger. He looked determined to get the U.S. a point on the first day. He was not denied. Blake won in straight sets, 6-4, 7-6, 6-2.
Day two saw the United States trot out the top-ranked doubles team in the world, the twin Bryan brothers. Romania sent out a doubles team of Victor Hanescu and Horia Tecau. Bob and Mike Bryan took the first set, 6-2. The second set was tied at 1-1 when Hanescu hunched over in pain. A floating left-rib injury would sideline him for the remainder of the Davis Cup action. The Romanian team retired, and the victory moved the Bryan brothers to 7-1 all-time in Davis Cup action. With a sold-out crowd hungry for more action, former tennis star John McEnroe descended from the broadcast booth to join his brother Patrick, captain of the U.S. team, in a “band of brothers” double exhibition against the Bryans. The Bryan twins played the McEnroes easy, but still won 8-4.
The U.S. entered day three up 2-1 (65-9 when leading 2-1). The Americans would only need to win one of the two matches on day three. Roddick was scheduled to play Hanescu, who was still hurt, so Romania sent out Razvan Sabau. Roddick took a conservative approach to the match, trying to minimize his energy output. His approach paid dividends, as Roddick won in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2. After the clinching match, the entire U.S. team jogged around the stadium with an American flag as Neil Diamond’s song “America” played over the PA.
James Blake came out to play the dead rubber against Tecau. Evidently no one told Blake that he did not need to go all-out. Blake took the first set 6-1. The second set proved to be a bit more of a challenge, but Blake prevailed, 7-5, to wrap up play for the first round of the Davis Cup.
The U.S. improved to 6-0 against Romania in Davis Cup play. In the next round of play, scheduled for April 7 through 9 at a site TBA, the U.S. will meet Chile.