U.S Davis cup team may get dirty in 2008. Roddick and his U.S. Davis Cup cohorts will probably face another battle on dirt in Europe after the team was drawn to face Austria on the road in the first round of next year's world group competition.
That means Roddick, James Blake and the Bryan twins, who were fabulous in this year's semifinal against Sweden, will in all likelihood meet the unpredictable Jurgen Melzer and veteran Stefan Koubek -- two lefties -- in singles, with Julian Knowle playing a part in the doubles.
The U.S. has beaten Austria both times the countries have met, including 3-2 in Vienna 17 years ago when Michael Chang rallied from two sets down to defeat Horst Skoff in the decisive fifth rubber, and should get through, surface notwithstanding, perhaps by the same score.
France probably awaits in the quarterfinals, and though a step up in class with the likes of Richard Gasquet and Paul-Henri Mathieu, the U.S. would host that series and thus prosper.
Then things could get really interesting -- possibly Spain on the road in the semifinals, which would mean more clay and much stiffer opposition, even if Rafael Nadal doesn't play. Spain has a potentially tricky matchup at Germany in the quarters.
It could be Argentina's year. David Nalbandian can't play as poorly as he's done so far in 2007, and the 2006 finalists will probably have home ties right through until the final.
Oh, and if the U.S. does spring a surprise and gets to next year's final? If not Argentina, then a rematch may loom against Russia. Both would be on the road, and no prizes for guessing the surface.
Source: seattlepi.nwsource.com
