DOUBLES LOSS THREATENS U.S. CHANCE.

Byline: A.J. Perez Staff Writer

CARSON - Sorry, Andre: Your services will be required later today.

For the United States to advance out of the first round in Davis Cup world play, both Andy Roddick and Agassi - who said after his humbling loss Friday that he wished this afternoon's match would become irrelevant - need to win to avoid elimination thanks to another disappointing day for the Americans at Home Depot Center.

Twins Mike and Bob Bryan of Camarillo were sent to their first loss in Davis Cup play by Croatia's Mario Ancic and Ivan Ljubicic, 3-6, 7-6 (8-6), 6-4, 6-4 in doubles action in front of 6,155 on Saturday. The loss put the U.S. into a 2-1 deficit heading into the final day of the best-of-five competition.

``It's disappointing, but we're going to get our pom-poms out and root these guys through (this),'' said Bob Bryan, half of a doubles team that entered 5-0 in Davis Cup play. ``If Andy can win that fourth match, Andre's really eager to get back out there and play again.''

The Bryans' enthusiasm aside, there is not a whole lot for the U.S. team to be excited about. The U.S. has only come back from a 2-1 deficit five times in 38 chances.

For what it's worth, the last time the U.S. came back from a 2-1 deficit was in 2000 at the Forum. Agassi and Pete Sampras won their Sunday matches to dispatch the Czech Republic, 5-3, in the quarters.

Roddick will face Ljubicic in the first match at 2 p.m. followed by the final rubber match, Agassi vs. Ancic.

``I can't think of two other guys I'd want to throw out there,'' U.S. captain Patrick McEnroe said.

He could have said the same about the Bryans, who had beaten Ancic and Ljubicic in their first two meetings.

A volley war involving all four players broke out during the second-set tiebreaker, but the Croats staved off the American effort.

``They kind of took control,'' Bob Bryan said. ``I can't remember how many volleys we hit. It was like three or four. We just could never get control of the point.''