Roddick Injured, Ginepri Folds as U.S. Eliminated at WTC

Posted on May 25, 2006

The U.S. brought their full Davis Cup squad to this week's ATP World Team Cup, and brought their lack of claycourt prowess into full view when they were eliminated from qualifying for the final after a 2-1 loss to Chile on Wednesday.

After Andy Roddick retired against Nicolas Massu in the first set after twisting his ankle, Robby Ginepri was embarrassed by No. 124-ranked Paul Capdeville 6-4, 6-4 to clinch the Chilean victory.

"I am proud to have gained the second point for Chile," said Capdeville, who earned his first tour-level win on clay for the 2006 season. "If the doubles is the decisive match, it can easily be lost. Robby Ginepri and I both are no clay specialists, but I think I did a little bit better on this surface. I am still lacking the necessary consistency to improve in the rankings. That's something I still have to work at."

In the dead-rubber doubles, the Bryan brothers made up for losing the decider earlier in the week against Croatia, defeating Massu and Fernando Gonzalez 6-4, 7-5.

Winning the tie was sweet revenge for the Chileans, who were equally out of their element last April on grass when the U.S. hosted them in Davis Cup.

For Roddick the injury comes a week after suffering a pinched nerve in his neck/back at Hamburg.

"I slipped and then went on running, and then I felt something kind of click apart. I wasn't really able to step on it anymore. It was pointless," said Roddick, who tried to play on with the ankle wrapped before giving up. "Now it will be a lot of ice for the coming days. It's disappointing; I feel like every time some progress is being made on clay something happens. In Rome, I pinched a nerve, and now this."

Chile will face Croatia on Friday to see which country advances to the final against either Germany or the Czech Republic, which square off Thursday.

On Wednesday in the second match Croatia edged Spain 2-1.

David Ferrer gave the Spaniards early hope with a 6-2, 6-2 whitewashing of Ivan Ljubicic before Mario Ancic beat Feliciano Lopez in three sets to bring about the deciding doubles. Croats Ivo Karlovic and Ljubicic then threw up a serving storm in a 6-3, 7-6(4) win over Lopez and Fernando Verdasco.

Thursday's match-ups in Dusseldorf are Germany vs. Czech Republic (Philipp Kohlschreiber vs. Robin Vik, Nicolas Kiefer vs. Tomas Berdych) for a place in the final, and Argentina vs. Italy (Jose Acasuso vs. Davide Sanguinetti, David Nalbandian vs. Filippo Volandri).