Blake, Ginepri Compete for U.S. No. 2 Davis Cup Spot

Posted on September 4, 2005

By Richard Vach, Tennis-X.com Senior Writer

Just in time, as the U.S. Davis Cup team fights later this month to retain a position in the 2006 World Group, James Blake stepped up Saturday at the US Open with a win over No. 2-ranked Rafael Nadal.

It wasn't on a claycourt, the surface of choice for Belgium as they host the U.S. on Sept. 23 on the red dirt in Leuven, Belgium, but it will do for U.S. captain Patrick McEnroe.

McEnroe has been waiting to fill the void in singles behind Andy Roddick. Now McEnroe has the difficult choice between Blake, who has an uninspiring 18-20 career record on clay, or Robbie Ginepri who is 2-11.

Ginepri's story is one of rededication, realizing earlier this year that he wasn't giving 100 percent to his game. After some hard work Ginepri saw his game resurface this summer with a title at Indianapolis (d. Roddick, Taylor Dent), a quarterfinal at L.A. (l. to Gilles Muller), and a three-set semifinal loss to world No. 1 Roger Federer at the Masters Series-Cincinnati.

With the resurgence, Ginepri has voiced his desire to McEnroe for the No. 2 singles spot against Belgium.

"I've had brief conversations with Patrick but he hasn't told me anything outside of it's between James and I," Ginepri told The Associated Press. "I know that this week and next week will be a factor in his decision. Anytime I can get a chance to play Davis Cup, I definitely want to do it."

Despite his 2-11 record, Ginepri says he's been told his game resembles that of a claycourter.

"I've heard that my game suits the clay better than the hardcourts, even though I don't have too many great results on the clay," Ginepri said. "I totally play like a claycourter. I'm a baseliner, I don't come in too much and I hit a heavy ball."

Not exactly resume material to hand to Captain P-Mac -- 'I'm 2-11 on clay but people say I'm a natural.'

Ginepri helped his cause Saturday night at the US Open, progressing to the round of 16 for the first time with a five-set upset over No. 29 seed Tommy Haas.
 
Blake's story is one of rebirth after last year sliding head-first into a net post during the claycourt season, fracturing vertebrae in his neck. His father Thomas died of cancer a month later, then as a result of stress he contracted Zoster, which partially paralyzed his face, affected his vision and caused dizziness.

Blake played three more events after the accident, realized he couldn't compete until he was well, and took the rest of the year off. The illness turned out to be a blessing, allowing him to spend precious time with his father before he passed.

This past spring Blake's ranking languished in the No. 200s.

Blake's coach, Brian Barker, has come under scrutiny as someone who could not take him to the next level. Blake says Barker, to the contrary, has brought him to where he is now, a giant-killer on the verge of the US Open quarterfinals.

"If I didn't have my coach Brian Barker there every day telling me, keeping things in perspective, just being honest about how rough it was last year, and then being honest at the beginning of the year, saying 'Yeah, that was a bad match but, what can you expect, you've got to think about the bigger picture,'" Blake said. "Just like he said before this (Nadal) match, 'Go out there, we're proud of you no matter what, do your best, no one's going to think anything but you gave your best today.'"

Now who will back up Roddick as the No. 2 singles player later this month in Belgium?

Blake has a direct line with Roddick -- or sorts.

"I did check however many voice mails I have now, and one of them is Andy," Blake said after beating Nadal. "I'm sure it's a message first congratulating me and then making fun of me for something I'm sure I did wrong on the court. I'll get back at him and I'm sure it will be a similar message where I make fun of him."