BIRMINGHAM, Ala.(AP) Roger Federer has drawn plenty of attention for not being here for the United States-Switzerland first-round Davis Cup match.
Now, Andy Roddick wants to change the subject for precisely that reason: Federer isn't here.
Instead, Roddick will face Marco Chiudinelli in Friday's first-round match at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex Arena, after James Blake matches up with Federer's Olympic gold medal-winning doubles partner, Stanislas Wawrinka.
And Federer? Well, the No. 2-ranked player has withdrawn citing back problems and turned the Americans into heavy favorites in the process.
At this point, it's irrelevant,'' Roddick said following Thursday's draw.We're going to play tomorrow and he's not on the team. This tie is now about the players that are here. That's what I'm focusing on.''
If Federer's absence isn't good news for the fans who snapped up the available tickets for the 16,500-seat arena within an hour - in an area much better known for college football and golf - it certainly gave the Americans a better chance to advance on the indoor hard court.
Blake, the U.S. No. 2 player, opens against Switzerland's No. 1 Wawrinka - not Federer - on Friday. Then, No. 6-ranked Roddick and Chiudinelli follow.
And a day later, the No. 1-ranked doubles team of twins Mike and Bob Bryan will face Wawrinka and Yves Allegro, instead of encountering that formidable Swiss gold-medal pairing.
The Bryans are 15-1 in 2009 with three titles. They finished ranked No. 2 last year behind Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic.
We kind of had a fire lit under us being that last year we finished No. 2,'' Mike Bryan said.That's paying off. This match is really important to us.''
The Americans will field the same team for the 11th time in 12 matches for team captain Patrick McEnroe, and the numbers are certainly in their favor. Besides Roddick, Blake is No. 13. in the world. Wawrinka, at No. 17, is the Swiss team's only player in the top 140.
The U.S. has won the Davis Cup 32 times and 12 of its last 13 matches at home; Switzerland's best finish was second in 1992. The U.S. has reached the semifinals three years running, winning in 2007, while the Swiss haven't survived the opening round since 2004.
Plus, the Americans have the home-court advantage.
Having a home crowd is huge,'' Blake said.It makes every point seem like it's yours to win. You just really feed off their energy. If you're down, they're there to pick you up. If you're up, it's so much easier to get on a roll because you feel you're exciting the crowd every single point you win.''
Wawrinka did find one bright note having to travel so far: ``I think we have less journalists because it's far away from Switzerland.''
Blake has lost his only two previous matchups with Wawrinka, but those were on clay, including a five-setter at the 2005 French Open. In Rome last year, Wawrinka won 6-7 (5), 7-6 (5), 6-1 - though Blake can draw a positive from both results.
To come that close on what's my least favorite surface could actually give me some confidence going in that now we're playing on my favorite surface with a pretty biased crowd behind me,'' said Blake, who didn't compete in last year's semifinal loss to Spain citing fatigue.I'm looking forward to the opportunity and hopefully changing that record. I've got an 0-fer against him, but I think this will be my best chance to change that.''
Roddick, who is 29-11 in Davis Cup matches, can tie Andre Agassi for second in career wins for the U.S. behind John McEnroe (41).
He expects Chiudinelli to be aggressive in seeking an upset.
He likes playing on faster surfaces a little bit more,'' Roddick said.That's what we have here. If I had to guess, I'd guess he's going to come out and play pretty high-risk tennis.
``That will make it important to kind of weather the storm when he is playing well and try to hold onto my serve and put pressure on his service games.''
Patrick McEnroe said having to wait to send Roddick onto the court with Blake going first isn't a big deal.
Both guys will be ready to play,'' McEnroe said.Hopefully they'll play the way they've been practicing all week. We feel good about our chances.''