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Sunday, April 21, 2002

By Phil Axelrod, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

Bob Ruzanic is part traveling secretary, part psychologist for the United States Davis Cup team that is marching toward its first championship since 1995.

Ruzanic, who lives in North Hills and grew up in the area, is in the final year of his second two-year term as chairman of the Davis Cup committee.

"We're the people who try to keep everybody happy," said Ruzanic, whose nine-man committee deals with the players, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) and the logistics of keeping everyone on the same page. "It gets trying because with each captain and each USTA president there's a different set of rules."

The atmosphere surrounding the Davis Cup team has changed dramatically since Patrick McEnroe replaced his brother, John, as the captain a year ago.

"Patrick is 180 degrees from his brother," Ruzanic said. "He's a concerned, caring person who has molded youth and experience together to form a team. We no longer are a group of individuals who had no clue what was happening.

"When Patrick took over from John it was a relief for us. We were in a state of chaos because of him [John]. Patrick mended a lot of fences. We all had to."

The U.S. team will travel to defending champion France in mid-September in a semifinal at a site to be determined. The U.S. team has advanced with victories against India, Slovakia, and Spain -- all on American soil.

Argentina is at Russia in the other semifinal.

The championship match will be in early December.

"If we beat France," Ruzanic said, "we will win the cup."

The U.S. defeated Spain, 3-1, with Andy Roddick and Pete Sampras playing singles and Todd Martin and James Blake in doubles.

Martin and Blake were selected to play doubles although Don Johnson, who graduated from Mt. Lebanon High School, and Jared Palmer, are considered to be the No. 1 doubles team in the world.

"Because of the severe physical demands of playing Davis Cup, we couldn't take a chance on having two doubles players who can't play singles. We need them to be able to play singles, too. Todd is a true team players. He's always there. He was the guy we had to have."

The teaming of Martin and Blake might have been a one-time occurrence.

Ruzanic said the best-case scenario for the matches against France would have Andre Agassi and Roddick in singles and Sampras and Blake in doubles. The team won't be announced until 10 days before the semifinal match.

"Pete and anybody could be the most formidable team in the world," Ruzanic said. "He'll do anything for us."

Sampras has had a lukewarm attitude toward the Davis Cup and has been a member of the team sporadically through the years since he led the U.S. team to the 1995 championship.

"He felt he didn't get the respect ... he felt he was unwanted and taken for granted," Ruzanic said. "It has dawned on these players that to be totally recognized as the greatest you have to be successful in the Grand Slams and the Davis Cup. Davis Cup is tougher than the Grand Slams because it takes six to eight weeks out of your life."

That's not the only difference.

"When you play Davis Cup, there are no people, no names. It's all U-S-A," Ruzanic said. "They're not used to that. At no time in recent history have Americans helped each other. Since Patrick came on board, they've banded together. This is a country that demands winning and Davis Cup keeps gaining momentum and magnitude each day with each victory.

"Davis Cup is on a roll."

Campus courts

Sixth-seeded Duquesne finished sixth in the Atlantic 10 Conference men's tournament at Oxford Athletic Club in Monroeville, with senior Dave Brady (4-0) at No. 1 singles, freshmen Seth Fogelman (2-1) at No. 2 and Ryan Moseley (2-1) at No. 3. In doubles, Vincente Arias and Moseley were 3-1 at No. 2 and Don MacNeil and Fogelman were 3-1 at No. 3.

Duquesne was 2-2 in team competition, defeating La Salle and Rhode Island and losing to Xavier and Dayton. Richmond won the championship.

The A-10 women's tournament is this weekend at College Park, Md., with Massachusetts defending its title and Duquesne hoping to pull an upset or two.