James Blake over Robby Ginepri for #2 Spot???

[Dan Berger]

Anybody understand why Patrick McEnroe chose James Blake over Robby Ginepri for this Davis Cup relegation tie?

Ginepri has had better results this summer than Blake. He beat Roddick at Indy and won the tournament. He made the semis in Cincinnati and took Federer to 3 tough sets before losing. He made the semis in the US Open before losing to Agassi in 5 close sets.

Blake won New Haven which had a weak field being the week before the US Open and he made the quarters at the Open also losing to Agassi in 5 close sets.

I know that Blake has a better clay court record but to me, Ginepri has earned the spot with his better recent form on tour.

Anybody out there also agree with me?

 

[Kevin Patrick]

maybe if robby had traveled with the team & had a good practice week, he would've been chosen:

In an unexpected — if not unusual — set of events, Ginepri took himself out of consideration for the No. 2 singles slot on the U.S. team in order to further prepare for the remainder of the season and recover from a breakthrough U.S. Open in which he reached his first Grand Slam tournament semifinal. During the Open, U.S. Captain Patrick McEnroe announced a squad of U.S. No. 1 Andy Roddick, Blake, Ginepri and Bryan twins Bob and Mike, the U.S. Open men’s doubles champions.

The players called McEnroe last weekend and asked who he would pick for the team if he had to make a decision right then. Based on their clay court records this year — Blake is 21-2, including exhibition tournaments and challengers; Ginepri is 4-5 including exhibition tournaments and qualifying — McEnroe said he would have to go with Blake. Ginepri said he would stay home, though remain willing to fly to Belgium in a pinch if injury demanded it.

http://www.sportsmediainc.com/tennisweek/index.cfm?func=showarticle&newsid=13900&bannerregion=

 

[p3k]

to me blake looked better than ginepri at the open. and mcenroe is probably deciding on the current form he's been watching both during the whole week.

 

[Kevin Patrick]

Plus Blake has more Davis Cup experience(including an away tie on clay against France)

Ginepri has only played DC once, in the US not on the road.

 

[Marius_Hancu]

OP: I see your points.
As shown in the above, Blake is better on clay

Pretty bad they couldn't have both of them, as the Bryan brothers occupy 2 places.

 

[Kevin Patrick]

They are both pretty weak on clay, but Ginepri is horrible while Blake is just poor.
Ginepri lost 1st round of French this year 6-0,6-0,6-3 to Djokovic.

 

[@wright]

What about Agassi?

 

[Kevin Patrick]

If it was in the US he might have played. Since it was in Belgium no chance whatsoever.

Much is made of how great a Davis Cup player Agassi was. That's true, but the vast majority of his wins were home ties, which made it a much more easy decision.

 

[Fee]

They are both pretty weak on clay, but Ginepri is horrible while Blake is just poor.
Ginepri lost 1st round of French this year 6-0,6-0,6-3 to Djokovic.

Yeah, but that was Ginepri 1.0. I'd love to see that match again, on clay, with the updated Ginepri program that was released this summer.

 

[LendlFan]

Of all the Tennis Forums I've been associated with, I have to say you guys are the best in how you break things down to a science. I'm impressed ..

I find that I'm not getting much work done at my job anymore because I'm too busy reading Post.

 

[VictorS.]

It's a toss-up IMO. Both guys played excellent at the Open and posted impressive wins against top players. Personally, I think Ginepri has been a bit more consistent and steadier. However, I'm not really familiar with either player's abilities on clay in comparison to one another. I would think Ginepri would be better on clay. However, it appears the statistics don't back that up.

 

[BreakPoint]

They are both pretty weak on clay, but Ginepri is horrible while Blake is just poor.
Ginepri lost 1st round of French this year 6-0,6-0,6-3 to Djokovic.

Yeah, Ginepri was down 0-6, 0-6, 0-3 before he won his first game in the 3rd set.

 

[BreakPoint]

Yeah, but that was Ginepri 1.0. I'd love to see that match again, on clay, with the updated Ginepri program that was released this summer.

Hmmm....I don't think anyone can become a significanly better clay court player overnight. Witness Roddick. It's more of a footwork thing than strokes or anything else.

 

[Fee]

Right, and Robby has pretty decent footwork. His biggest problem has always been his noggin. If he has the same level of confidence next Spring, I will be very interested to see his results on clay. I think he will do well (but I am very biased).

 

[kookie411]

may be because Blake wear Nike

 

[Noelle]

maybe if robby had traveled with the team & had a good practice week, he would've been chosen

Yes, but after the Vinny Spadea debacle last year (he traveled to Spain, beat Fish in practice, but didn't get to play anyway), maybe Ginepri thought the added travel wouldn't be worth it.