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  • Blake still the man for US Davis Cup hopes

    9/6/08 1:56 AM | Johan Lindahl
    - American Davis Cup coach Patrick McEnroe has given a vote of confidence of off-the-boil James Blake as he chose the American for a Davis Cup squad for an 11th straight time.

    Blake will team with Andy Roddick and the No. 1 Bryan brothers when the US travel to a Madrid bullring for the Sept 19-21 semi-final against Spain and Rafael Nadal.

    Blake was among the earliest of home exits at the US Open going out in the third round to compatriot Mardy Fish, also overlooked due to his lack of results on clay.

    Mac also failed to pick big hitter Sam Querrey, who reached the Monte Carlo quarterfinals last spring.

    “James also won some matches on clay this year, including Rome where he lost in three sets to (Stan) Wawrinka. He's had probably as many wins as maybe those other guys.

    “James has won some big matches for us in the last two years in Davis Cup. The last time I checked he was still in the top 10, and nobody else was in the top 40, although Mardy's maybe moved up there.

    “I want to go with the best guys, I want to go with the guys that I think give us the best chance to win”, added the skipper. “If I thought that someone else gave us a better chance to win I would go with somebody else.

    ”I still thoroughly believe that Roddick and Blake give us the best chance. Obviously the fact that they have experience is part of that, not only in Davis Cup, but in big matches overall“.

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