U.S. READY TO WIN? MAC HAS NO WORRIES ABOUT CZECH REPUBLIC.Byline: Lee Barnathan Staff Writer INGLEWOOD - Here, in the self-proclaimed City of Champions, John McEnroe John Patrick McEnroe, Jr. (born February 16, 1959 in Wiesbaden, Germany) is a former World No. 1 professional tennis player from the United States. McEnroe won seven Grand Slam singles titles — three at Wimbledon and four at the U.S. predicts another. In the same building where the Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Lakers' six title banners and seven retired uniforms still hang (those are new ones at Staples Center This article has multiple issues: * Its neutrality is disputed. * It may contain original research or unverifiable claims. * It does not cite any references or sources. ), McEnroe declared his Davis Cup Davis Cup: see tennis. Davis Cup Trophy awarded to the winning team of an international tennis tournament for men. It was donated in 1900 by Dwight F. team will beat the Czech Republic Czech Republic, Czech Česká Republika (2005 est. pop. 10,241,000), republic, 29,677 sq mi (78,864 sq km), central Europe. It is bordered by Slovakia on the east, Austria on the south, Germany on the west, and Poland on the north. in this quarterfinal meeting starting today at noon. The U.S. team is a Dream Team of sorts, featuring the world's No. 1- and No. 2-ranked singles players in Andre Agassi Andre Kirk Agassi (born April 29 1970, in Las Vegas, Nevada) is a former World No. 1 professional tennis player from the United States who won eight Grand Slam singles tournaments and an Olympic gold medal in singles. and Pete Sampras Peter “Pete” Sampras (born 12 August 1971), is a former World No. 1 tennis player from the United States. During his 15-year career he won a record 14 Grand Slam men's singles titles in 52 appearances. Sampras finished as No. , and the world's top two doubles players in Alex O'Brien Alex O'Brien (born March 7, 1970 in Amarillo, Texas) is a professional tennis player from the United States, who competed on the ATP Tour. He was the No. 1 doubles player in the world (gaining that ranking on May 8, 2000) and was ranked as high as 30 in the world in singles and Jared Palmer Jared Palmer (born July 2, 1971 in New York, New York, USA) is a professional tennis player who won 28 professional doubles titles and 1 singles title in his career on the ATP Tour. He also won 4 double titles on the challenger's circuit (2 in '92 and 2 in '93). . It's only the second time since tennis rankings began in 1974 that the top singles and doubles players are playing Davis Cup. Plus, there's McEnroe, holder of 20 U.S. Davis Cup records, captain for the first time on American soil. The Americans rallied to beat host Zimbabwe in February. When McEnroe says, ``I expect us to win every match, including doubles,'' he is not playing mind games. It's what he believes and, perhaps most important, what he demands. ``I think Zimbabwe's more dangerous (than the Czech Republic),'' McEnroe said. ``We are overwhelming favorites, even more so than we were in our first match. If Sampras and Agassi are playing to their potential, they should win all of their matches. . . . We're at a big advantage, playing at home and at a place where we'll get the most exposure: the Forum.'' How are Sampras and Agassi? They're not 100 percent - Agassi is playing on a sprained ankle he suffered last week in Key Biscayne, Fla., and Sampras arrived exhausted after winning the event. But Sampras has hit well each day and is ready to take on Jiri Novack in the first match, at noon. Agassi, who faces Slava Dosedel following Sampras-Novack, has practiced each day with his ankle taped. ``It's stable, which was all I was hoping for at this point,'' he said. ``It's not great . . . but it's in plenty good enough condition.'' The Czechs also are aware of the American prowess. All week, captain Jan Kukal has said he is preparing his team to play ``probably the best team ever.'' And on paper, the Czechs would seem heavy underdogs. Novack is ranked 39th in the world. He has lost twice this year to Agassi and lost in five sets to Sampras four years ago in the U.S. Open second round. Dosedel, ranked 48th, lost to Agassi in last year's Australian Open second round and lost to Sampras in this year's Australian second round. He's 0-4 lifetime against the Americans. Yet Novack accounted for all three of his country's points in the first-round victory over Great Britain, and he's 5-1 in Davis Cup singles matches and 4-0 when teamed with David Rikl in Davis Cup doubles. Novack and Rikl will play O'Brien and Palmer on Saturday at 1 p.m. Plus, funny things often happen in Davis Cup - check out Chris Woodruff beating Zimbabwe or McEnroe's six-hour, 22-minute victory over Mats Wilander of Sweden in 1982. So the Americans, mindful of their Goliath-like status, are trying to avoid overconfidence o·ver·con·fi·dent adj. Excessively confident; presumptuous. o  ver·con . ``You can't go into any match thinking it's a done deal,'' O'Brien said. ``We have to go out and do a job, and that's win the match.'' ``I don't want (upsets) to happen here in our back yard,'' Agassi said. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Andre Agassi returns a shot in practice for Davis Cup matches this weekend at the Forum. The U.S. plays the Czech Republic. Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press |
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