U.S. Doubles Its Troubles in Davis Cup

They were attempting to be like the Lakers this weekend, a lofty goal, certainly.

Unfortunately, these last two days, the Dream Team of American tennis has looked a lot like the Lakers . . . the Lakers of last season.

Let us count the ways: Performing below expectation, finger-pointing and an often tense star player-coach relationship that could crumble at the slightest provocation.

If it all sounds familiar, well, it is. After Saturday’s doubles, the Czech Republic took a 2-1 lead against the United States in the Davis Cup quarterfinals, as Jiri Novak and David Rikl defeated Alex O’Brien and Jared Palmer, 7-5, 6-4, 6-4, before an announced crowd of 9,520 at the Great Western Forum.

Now, the Czechs need only one victory in today’s reverse singles: Jiri Novak faces Andre Agassi, followed by Slava Dosedel against Pete Sampras.

Two months ago, the Americans secured two singles victories on the final day to survive against Zimbabwe and they did it on the road, without Sampras. In Davis Cup competition, the United States has rallied from a 2-1 deficit four times.

“This is not a dream,” Novak said, smiling. “This is reality.”

Said U.S. captain John McEnroe: “I’d prefer, obviously, not to be in this position. Having said that, I still believe we’re going to win these two matches.”

Before Friday, however, very few people could have predicted the winner of 12 Grand Slam titles (Sampras) and the No. 1 doubles team (O’Brien and Palmer) both losing matches, let alone failing to win a single set.

The quick, telling statistic for the Czechs in those two victories: Break points faced--18. Break points saved--17.

O’Brien and Palmer had reason for confidence against Novak and Rikl, defeating them twice in 2000, most recently in the quarterfinals at the Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, Fla. They did not lose a set in either match.

“I think really one set goes to Martin Damm,” Czech captain Jan Kukal said of one of his veteran players. “Because he won against them last week [in the semifinals]. He knew exactly what he should do. We did exactly what they don’t like.”

Said Palmer: “We just had trouble really getting anything going. It seemed like we were moving, then they were going behind us. I went a couple of times early and they went behind me. They burned me up the line quite a few times.”

Although O’Brien and Palmer are partners on the ATP tour, this was their first Davis Cup match together. Before Friday, there was talk of a U.S. sweep, not of the Czechs on the verge of a major upset.

“No, I didn’t feel like we would be in this situation at all,” O’Brien said. “I felt like we would have a chance to close the match out, being up 2-0. But like John said, this is Davis Cup. That’s why it’s a different game, a different animal. Yeah, I can say we’re a little stunned to be in this situation.”

One of the few signs of excitement--albeit brief--came in the third set when they broke Rikl in the sixth game to get back on serve, making it 3-3. The momentum died three games later when the Czechs broke Palmer at 30 when he netted a backhand half-volley.

“We had to give them a reason,” O’Brien said of the often-flat crowd. “We never gave them a reason. We broke back in the third set and gave them a small reason to get back into it and they got into it.”

In Zimbabwe, McEnroe seemed to try to take pressure off his players, questioning the officials and wondering if they were attempting to get back at him. Saturday, he went another route, aiming some shots at his team and the media.

“I just know that we’re acting like spoiled kids, basically,” McEnroe said.

He wasn’t done.

“If we’re guilty of anything, we haven’t played hard enough,” he said. “Novak was hustling, and would appear to be more than Pete. Dosedel lost, but he was diving.

“It would be nice to feel like we were doing that. I’d like to be able to see more of that.”

Then he turned to the media.

McEnroe was upset about the focus of coverage, in particular the botched Czech national anthem.

“It just makes people less into Davis Cup,” he said.

But Kukal and his players said the botched anthem was motivational.

“I just don’t buy that, personally,” McEnroe said. “I think that’s a bunch of baloney.”

So much for the quiet little quarterfinal in Los Angeles. It’s Harare all over again.

“This is like David versus Goliath,” McEnroe said. “It’s the same thing as in Zimbabwe.

DAVIS CUP

AT FORUM

Czech Republic leads U.S., 2-1

TODAY

Andre Agassi vs. Jiri Novak

Pete Sampras vs. Slava Dosedel

COVERAGE

Bill Dwyre says count on U.S. to rally for a victory.

Page 4

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

THE BOX SCORE

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USA CZECH Total points won 63 69 Aces 2 3 Double faults 1 3 Pct. of 1st serves 72 61 Pct. of 1st serve points won 58 79 Pct. of 2nd serve points won 60 54 Service games broken 2 1 Winners (including service) 4 8 Time of match 2:05

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