Roddick and Blake Are In, Bryans Out for Davis Cup

The youth movement could go only so far. When twins Bob and Mike Bryan lost in the second round at the U.S. Open, it sealed their Davis Cup fate for the relegation round against India on Sept. 21-23 at Winston-Salem, N.C.

U.S. Davis Cup captain Patrick McEnroe, as expected, selected the doubles team of Don Johnson and Jared Palmer. Johnson, who turns 33 on Sunday, and Palmer are playing in the Open final today against Wayne Black and Kevin Ullyett of Zimbabwe.

McEnroe named a six-man team Thursday. The others are Andy Roddick, James Blake, Todd Martin and Rob Ginepri. McEnroe has to cut the group to four by Sept. 11. He said Martin was joining with the squad with the understanding he may not play.

“There was a part of me that said, ‘It would be great to have the Bryans because they’re the youth, the young guys,’ ” McEnroe said. “There’s another part of me [that said], ‘Wouldn’t it be great to see Don Johnson play because of all he’s done?’ At the end of the day, they’re the better team right now.”

The Bryans, from Camarillo, have had an excellent 2001. But Johnson and Palmer inched ahead by winning Wimbledon in July.

“I feel the Bryans have an excellent chance in the future,” McEnroe said. “They’ve gotten a lot better this year.”