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March 17th, 2008
Roddick Ruminates on Davis Cup Smack Talk Ahead of Meeting with France
by Richard Vach
After an early-round loss at the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells, Andy Roddick met with the press and briefly spoke about the U.S. Davis Cup team’s upcoming quarterfinal meeting with France in April.
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Roddick and James Blake in singles will have their hands full against likely opponents Richard “Baby Fed” Gasquet, and Australian Open runner-up Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
“Tsonga has been talking a little bit of stuff, which is fun,” Roddick said. “You know, it adds to it. And, you know, they should be pumped up, but I think we’re pumped up, also. I think we have a lot of respect for whoever their team may be.”
Gasquet is the top-ranked Frenchman, but Paul-Henri Mathieu is ranked three spots ahead of Tsonga.
Roddick good-naturedly kidded the American press in Indian Wells about helping out the American cause.
“I think there’s a little bit of a question right now over who the second [French singles] player is, and I see a potential third-round match-up between those two here,” Roddick said. “I’m sure there might be some implications there. You might want to plant that seed, you guys, with the pressure that might be on that match as far as be sure to ask them about that.”
The U.S. squad will host France on April 11-13 in Winston-Salem, N.C., at Joel Coliseum where the Americans last year beat Spain in a quarterfinal meeting that drew crowds of more than 14,000 each day.
“I’ve lost to Richard before, and their team is one of the few that’s beat the Bryans,” Roddick said. “It’s probably the toughest second round that’s going, and we have a lot of respect for their team, that’s for sure.”
Also Check Out:
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Nalbandian Might Not Win a Slam in 2008, But He Might Win the Davis Cup
Roddick Healthy for Friday Davis Cup
Nadal Tarnishes Davis Cup Effort vs U.S.
Roddick, Blake Face Depleted French Squad in Davis Cup
