April 2, 2002	Tuesday	Muharram 18,1423

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HOUSTON (Texas), April 1: Patrick McEnroe will have revenge on his mind when the United States tackle Spain in the Davis Cup quarterfinals starting Friday.

The U.S. team that was guided by McEnroe’s elder brother John suffered one of their most humiliating Davis Cup losses when they were handed a 5-0 drubbing in the 2000 semifinals by eventual champions Spain.

Two years on and U.S. captain Patrick has already won the mental battle ahead of the tie by playing two major trump cards.

His choice of staging the tie on grass at the Westside Tennis Club has presented the worst possible scenario for his claycourt-loving opponents.

Also, the return of seven-time Wimbledon champion Pete Sampras to the team after he spent two years in a self-imposed Davis Cup exile has given the U.S a much needed boost.

In fact, Sampras has won over nine times more matches (with 66 wins) at Wimbledon alone than the entire Spanish team of Corretja, Tommy Robredo, Juan Balcells and Alberto Martin have won between them on grass in their careers.

Despite being ranked lower than Spain in the competition, the U.S. are favourites to advance with the likes of hot shot Andy Roddick, Todd Martin and James Blake completing their line-up.

For Patrick McEnroe, who took over the U.S captaincy in November 2000 after John resigned from the post following the defeat to Spain, victory will allow him to equal at least one of his brother’s numerous sporting achievements.

Patrick — winner of one singles title to brother John’s 77 — will emulate John’s record as Davis Cup captain if the United States reach the last four as expected.

The elder McEnroe, who as a player helped the U.S. win five of their record 31 Davis Cup titles, quit the captaincy after just one season, frustrated that top players such as Sampras and Andre Agassi did not jump to answer his call to duty.—Reuters