Sampras and Agassi pass on Davis Cup
By IRA PODELL
AP Sports Writer
September 10, 2002
NEW YORK (AP) -- The all-American U.S. Open final between Pete Sampras and
Andre Agassi took enough out of both players to keep them off the Davis Cup
team.
Sampras beat Agassi to win the U.S. Open on Sunday, and told team captain
Patrick McEnroe a day later that he wasn't ready to play in next weekend's
Davis Cup semifinal match against France in Paris.
``I think Pete needs time to digest what happened and decide what he wants
to do,'' McEnroe said Tuesday. ``I think he's just worn out, and I certainly
understand that.''
Once the United States' top two players passed on the chance, McEnroe chose
Andy Roddick, James Blake, Todd Martin and Mardy Fish to play France at
Roland Garros, home of the French Open.
Roddick and Blake will play singles, and there is a good chance that Blake
and Martin will comprise the doubles team. That pair beat Mahesh Bhupathi
and Max Mirnyi, the U.S. Open doubles champions, to win the ATP Tour's event
in Cincinnati last month.
Sampras eliminated Roddick in the U.S. Open quarterfinals en route to his
first singles title since winning Wimbledon in 2000.
``It's time for the younger guys to take the baton and run with it,'' said
McEnroe, whose term as captain was extended by two years on Tuesday.
``This is a big step, we're relying on them.''
Agassi had previously decided that he wasn't going to play, but McEnroe held
out hope that he would change his mind.
``I really want the guys who want to be there,'' McEnroe said. ``I've seen
too many situations in Davis Cup when the so-called best players were there
and didn't want to be there for whatever reason. And that never works.''
McEnroe said that had Agassi won the U.S. Open, he thinks Agassi's Davis Cup
decision might have changed.
``I think Andre was devastated with his loss,'' McEnroe said. ``Andre has
said all along he is not going to play Davis Cup. I wasn't surprised that
he declined.''
Sampras, who has won a record 14 Grand Slam singles titles, has never
advanced past the semifinals on the red clay of Roland Garros, losing in
the first round this year.
McEnroe noted that, saying that having Sampras on the team didn't guarantee
a U.S. victory.
``I had a conversation with Pete that was very honest and very straightforward,
'' McEnroe said. ``When he told me that he's exhausted and having lots of
emotions, that was pretty much the answer.''
Sebastien Grosjean, Arnaud Clement, Fabrice Santoro and Michael Llodra were
chosen last week to represent defending champion France in the semifinal,
scheduled for Sept. 20-22.
The United States and France have met 13 times in Davis Cup play, with the
Americans holding a 7-6 advantage.
The last match between France and the United States at Roland Garros was the
1932 final, which France won 3-2. France hasn't played there since 1982,
when it defeated Czechoslovakia in a quarterfinal.
``I think our chances are excellent,'' McEnroe said. ``Obviously, playing
in Paris will be difficult, but we're looking forward to it. The guys really
wanted to play at Roland Garros.''
--
Oh, it's such a perfect day
I'm glad I spend it with you
Oh, such a perfect day
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You just keep me hanging on
--
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