APRIL 2008

 

U.S. vs. France: No Fear of Les Blues

 

The U.S. has now won five straight Davis Cup ties, but the defending champ’s upcoming quarterfinal against France (April 11-13, at the Joel Coliseum in Winston-Salem, N.C.) will be as dicey as they come.

France is likely to bring in a stellar squad that includes Aussie Open finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Wimbledon semifinalist Richard Gasquet and former Wimby doubles champs Arnaud Clement/Michael Llodra.

Andy Roddick, James Blake and the Bryan Bros. know they have a load on their hands. But when told that bold and charismatic Tsonga said that the U.S. fears his team, Roddick replied that France should be looking up at the formidable defending champion.

“Last I checked, we were the champions, Roddick said.  “Of course we respect them, but I think I might be able to get out there and play a tennis match without shaking. They should be pumped up, but I think we’re pumped up, also. We have a lot of respect for whoever their team may be.  I’ve lost to Richard before, and their team is one of the few that’s beaten the Bryans. It’s probably the toughest second round that’s going.”

The U.S. last played France in the ‘02 Davis Cup semis on clay at Roland Garros and fell 3-2 v (France had clinched it at 3-1). Greenhorns Roddick and Blake were both on that team, as was Clement, but the rest of the team members that will play in North Carolina will be new.

Roddick and Blake have more experience, but both have lost to Gasquet, although Blake did just snare a win over the talented Frenchman at Indian Wells. Roddick is 2-0 against powerful Tsonga, while Blake has never played him.

“A lot of times you go into a tie and you think, okay, this is one kind of a lock, this match we got,” Blake said. “I don’t feel there’s any one of those for either side.”

At 14-1, the Bryans have equaled the Davis Cup mark set by two U.S. pairs — John McEnroe/Peter Fleming and Wilmer Allison/John Van Ryn, but have had a shaky start to the year, failing to win a title.  Clement/Llodra prevented the Bryans from raising the Wimbledon trophy in ‘07, defeating them in the final. While the Bryans have defeated the French duo before on tour, but they’ve also struggled against them.

“France has some different players now, some talented and charismatic young players, which will make it a great tie. Not only do they have a great team, but great individual players with a lot of flair,” said U.S. captain Patrick McEnroe.

In ‘07, Winston-Salem hosted a sold-out quarterfinal tie between the U.S. and Spain. The U.S. cruised to 4-1 victory. This tie promises to be a sell-out once again and Blake is hoping that the crowd can help carry them on an ultra-quick surface.

“Our crowd is very vocal.  But there especially we have 13,000-14,000 sold out every day.  They’re crazy about tennis there.  And for Andy and I it’s got a lot of sentimental value to it with the fact it was the first time we were on the team together, playing against India about a month after 9/11.  The patriotism there, everything we felt, the emotions there, was just amazing, and it’s still one of my fondest memories on tour.”

While Tsonga concedes that the U.S. is the favorite, he won’t say that France will go in as a serious underdog.

“We’re in the good way, so we are excited to play the Davis Cup,” Tsonga said. “We are in the good way with Richard.  We are not bad players, so maybe it’s going to be more difficult than they think.”