March 9, 2005 2005 Davis Cup HEAVENS, AIN'T THAT A BITCH - CROATS EXTEND U.S. CUP ITCH The Itch Boys scratched the United States again, and it hurts Capt. Patrick McEnroe & Co. more than usual. This was supposedly the year of an American “dream team” (an overworked sports tag). However, it turned out to be just an idle dream as Croatia won the Davis Cup first rounder 3-2 at Carson, Calif., March 4 - 6, and Ivan Ljubicic - the Croat Croaker -- established himself as an all-time bogey man with a powerful trifecta of 2 singles and a doubles wins. He and Mario Ancic with the “itch” (ic) at the end of their names were the end for the U.S. before the campaign was hardly underway. Itching for the big sterling tub since the 1995 final round victory over Russia in Moscow, the U.S. now thirsts in an 11 year Cup drought that equals the nadirs of 1926 - 37 and 1902 - 13. When Patrick McEnroe, the captain who re-introduced camaraderie and commitment to the U.S. team, convinced Father Timeless, Andre Agassi, to give it one more shot, as Andy Roddick's running mate, the prospects were golden for his team. It semed like pennies - better still, euros - from heaven as Andre signed on. But the gold began turning to zinc when No. 14 Ljubicic knocked off No. 9 Andre in the leadoff match, 6-3, 7-6 (7-0), 6-2. The U.S. never recovered even though No. 3 Roddick got an opening day split over No. 23 Ancic in 4 sets, and pushed Ljubicic to 5 sets in the decisive fourth match, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (13-11), 6-7 (7-9), 6-2. The U.S. had never lost a first round at home since the Cup was unveiled in 1900 during the 3-0 victory over Britain at Boston. This one was eminently winnable - except that in the crunch the homeboys were out to lunch. The big points that could have turned it around were snatched by the Itch Boys. Those points: Agassi, serving for the second set, 5-3 was thrice 2 points away at 30-15, 30-all and deuce, but couldn't go farther. Bryan twins Bob and Mike - losers, 3-6, 7-6 (10-8), 6-4, 6-4 - had 3 set points for a 2 set lead in the tie-breaker, but couldn't make it even with Bob's tough southpaw serve on the last of them at 7-points-to-6. Mike had 4 game points on serve at 1-1 in the third but suffered the break that determined the set. Roddick led 4-1 in the third set tie-breaker, and 6-5 with serve (plus 2 other set points on Ivan's serve at 8-9 and 10-11), but couldn't get it done. After fighting back to take the fourth set on a 5th set point, Andy strangely faded away, losing the first 8 points of the fifth, and couldn't recover. Chances abounded - Lubicic grabbed them as he had in 2003, launching his hex status in the U.S. hall of infamous saboteurs. He won three matches then, too, in the 4-1 first rounder. But that was in Zagreb, on an indoor court souped up for his massive serving, and against the jayvees - James Blake and Mardy Fish - with Roddick injured and Agassi having declared himself out of the picture after 9 years of duty. This time Ivan was in the enemy camp against the so-called “dream team.” Not so dreamy when you look closer. In slowing the hard court down to thwart Ljubicic and Ancic, Capt, McEnroe may have tripped himself up. The court wasn't quick enough for Agassi or Roddick, and the invaders handled it well. Even though the Bryans were 5-0 in Cup assignments (15-0 in sets), they had faced straw men, The resistance, service-returning and volleying of Ancic and Ljubicic, had them in trouble. Of 3 major doubles finals they've won only one. There's no doubt that Roddick is hustling, but is he improving? His forehand was dicey, volleying inept. He's young, quick, talented, eager, but isn't well-rounded yet. Consider how he's been jolted since September -- jarred by Joachim Johansson to lose his U.S. Open crown, mistreated by Lleyton Hewitt at the Masters and Australian Open, and by Rafael Nadal and Carlos Moya in the 2004 Davis Cup final. The guy needs purposeful work. Ljubicic, the husky (6-4, 190) 26-year-old kept banging aces and service winners as he did in the Zagreb zinging of the Yanks two years ago. But his overall game has progressed under Italian coach Riccardo Piatti. Ivan had more variety in groundies and volleying than either of his foes. He remains very glad to be alive after he and his family escaped genocide, fleeing their Bosnian hometown, Banja Luka, 13 years ago. His 2 triples against the U.S. put Ivan in select company. Two guys did it thrice: Brit Laurie Doherty (1903, 05-06), Aussie Frank Sedgman (1950-51-52). Four others tripled twice: Aussies Norman Brookes (1910-11) and Lew Hoad (1955-56) as well as France's Henri Cochet (1928, 30) and Mexican Raul Ramirez (1975-76). Capt. McEnroe, now 7-5 for 5 seasons, thought this team could go all the way, and the opportunity was there: a quarter-final at home against Romania would have put them in the final four. Ah, but the capriciousness of Davis Cup, the nationalistic pressures greater than in any tournament, add to its charm. Not only the U.S. but Cup-defending Spain disappeared in the first round, the Spaniards bumped by Slovakia at Bratislava. The reign in Spain was brief: 90 days. For only the third time in the competition's history both finalists of the previous year were toppled in the opening round: U.S. losing to Australia, and Switzerland to India in 1993; Italy losing to Switzerland, and Sweden to Slovakia in 1999. Still, the season isn't quite over for the Americans and Spaniards. In September they get a chance for redemption in relegation matches, the round that saved the U.S. after the 2003 loss to Croatia. Then the U.S. defeated Slovakia, to hold onto a spot in the big league, the 16 nation World Group in 2004. The identity of their next foes will be revealed by a draw in May. Lose again in September - and the U.S. will be in a free fall to the lower depths, ineligible to compete for the Cup in 2006. Only once before has that happened, in 1987, with losses to Paraguay and Germany. Soon after, teen-ager Agassi first appeared to lead his compatriots out of the wilderness with wins over Peru and Argentina. Whether he will be seen again, at 35, in the service of the USA is a question that won't be answered until September when the team teeters on the brink of oblivion, a downfall that would last, at least, for one year. <<<Back