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Everything up in the air McEnroe has decisions to make for Davis Cup qualifier
NEW YORK (AP) -- Patrick McEnroe doesn't know the who, what or where for the United States' Davis Cup qualifier against India in September. One thing the U.S. captain is pretty sure of, though: Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras won't play. "I have not had any discussions with individual guys committing them to this match. A lot can happen between now and then," McEnroe said Wednesday. "I will certainly talk to all the players, as I've been doing since I became the captain. That includes Sampras and Agassi. I don't expect that they will play, but I'll certainly talk to them." The United States was matched with India in a draw Wednesday in London. The winner of their best-of-5 encounter Sept. 21-23 will play in the World Group in 2002; the loser drops down to zonal competition. Agassi and Sampras, who have won six of the last eight major singles titles and a total of 20 overall, didn't participate when the United States lost to Switzerland in February in the first round of World Group play in this year's Davis Cup. That was McEnroe's debut as captain, replacing brother John, who also had trouble getting two of the world's elite players to compete in the team competition. "Well, as far as getting the top players to play, there's only so much that any individual can do," Patrick McEnroe said. "If they don't want to play, they're not going to play." He listed 18-year-old Andy Roddick - "I think he's got the potential to be a legitimate top-10, top-5 player," McEnroe said -- Jan-Michael Gambill, Taylor Dent and Mardy Fish as possible selections to face India. "The young players are certainly eager to play and will play if and when called upon," McEnroe said. "I've said from the moment I got the job that I want players there who want to be there. Despite what the rankings say, if you have players there who are not 100 percent committed to the team it doesn't work out." As host, the United States gets to choose where to play the matches and on which surface, decisions which have to be made by May 2. Among the cities being considered are Savannah, Ga.; Dallas; Miami; Winston-Salem, N.C.; Louisville, Ky.; Scottsdale, Ariz.; Delray Beach, Fla.; and Wesley Chapel, Fla. McEnroe ruled out playing on grass, adding, "More likely than not we'll play on a relatively slow hard court or on clay." The United States owns a 6-0 Davis Cup record against India.
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