DAVIS CUP : U.S. Subs Are Ready for Mexico

If this is the Davis Cup, there must be turmoil, so leave it to the United States to get the ball rolling.

The U.S. team, which hasn’t won the Davis Cup in eight years, starts searching for it again today at La Costa as the heavy favorite in a first-round match against Mexico.

But first, some questions need answering:

--Where’s Andre Agassi?

Probably color-coordinating his shirts at home in Las Vegas, where he chose to remain after being passed over. Then, afforded the chance to reconsider, Agassi just said no.

--Where’s John McEnroe?

Certainly not in Australia or posing for any airport photos, not after his wallet was $6,500 lighter because of fines and after he poked his finger at a photographer at LAX upon his return home. McEnroe doesn’t play Davis Cup first-rounders, anyway.

--Where are Ken Flach and Robert Seguso?

Earlier this week, they were in Abilene, Tex., playing a doubles exhibition. They were not preparing for Davis Cup because the Ken and Bob Show is off the air after absorbing its first Davis Cup loss last summer in West Germany.

“We lose one lousy match . . . “ said Seguso.

--Where are Rick Leach and Jim Pugh?

They were up there on the dais at Thursday’s draw, introduced by referee Javier Sansierra of Spain as “Leets” and “Poog.”

--Where’s Chucky Adams?

In keeping with the theme of this Davis Cup, practice player Adams got his big break here. He broke a bone in his foot, joining Michael Chang, who has a separated bone in his hip, and Aaron Krickstein, who has a pulled groin, on the U.S. all-hospital team.

All set? Let’s play ball. Jay Berger plays the first singles match today at noon against Jorge Lozano, followed by Brad Gilbert against Leonardo Lavalle. The four will switch opponents Sunday after Leach and Pugh play Lozano and Lavalle in Saturday’s doubles match.

Half of the U.S. team is new, or at least different from the squad originally selected. When Chang and Krickstein could not play because of injuries, U.S. captain Tom Gorman named Gilbert and Berger to replace them.

But to many, the real question is not who is playing, but how long it will take. A 5-0 sweep? Let’s just say the United States is confident.

When he was named to play against Mexico as a substitute for Chang, Gilbert said four or five different U. S. teams could beat Mexico. He was more conservative Thursday when asked about American prospects.

“I like our chances,” Gilbert said. “I think even though this is the replacement team, we are not quite like the scout football players. I see things looking good for us.”

For Mexico then, the view must not be quite so good. Coach Antonio Palofax acknowledged that his players would be bucking difficult odds.

“For us to win, yes, it would be an upset, but there is always a chance,” he said.

Gilbert, who has experienced difficulty with Lavalle, has at least already swamped him in the rankings. Gilbert is No. 4 in the world, Lavalle No. 157.

Lavalle is 3-1 against Gilbert but lost to him in 1986 in their only previous Davis Cup encounter.

Berger has not played Lavalle or Lozano. He is ranked No. 11 in the world, and Lozano is No. 348. Named to the team only last Saturday after Krickstein was forced to pull out and Agassi passed on Gorman’s invitation, Berger arrived Sunday at La Costa, only five days before his match.

“I don’t care if I had to travel three times around the world, I’d be here to play,” Berger said.

What they’re playing on is a medium-fast hardcourt, resurfaced a couple of weeks ago. The legendary Pancho Segura, La Costa’s director of tennis, believes the surface will favor neither team.

His pick?

“I only hope that it is 1-1 after the first day so there is a lot of excitement,” Segura said. “Then, as you know, anything can happen in Davis Cup.”

Davis Cup Notes

The displaced doubles team of Ken Flach and Robert Seguso is gone, but not forgotten, at least for this round. Seguso believes that Rick Leach and Jim Pugh will do all right in their Davis Cup debut Saturday. “They’re a very good team,” he said. “They’re very eager. That’s what doubles are all about--all eagerness. I’m sure they shouldn’t have too much trouble.” Flach said he understood when U. S. Captain Tom Gorman told him he was turning to Leach and Pugh to get them some Davis Cup experience. . . . If the U. S. team beats Mexico this weekend, its second-round opponent is expected to be Czechoslovakia, which plays Switzerland this weekend. “I’ll miss La Costa,” Flach said. “I told Gorman, ‘Let us play La Costa and send Leach and Pugh to Czechoslovakia.’ ”