Czech Minar to make Davis Cup debut against Roddick

OSTRAVA, Czech Republic, Feb 8 (Reuters) Davis Cup debutant Ivo Minar will kick off the Czech Republic's World Group first round tie against former world number one Andy Roddick tomorrow in the opening singles pairing.

Today's draw also set up a tantalising match between the big serving Tomas Berdych, the top Czech player, and world number six James Blake in tomorrow's second rubber on the slow clay the Czechs have laid in the CEZ Arena.

Berdych and Roddick were drawn to play in the first reverse singles match on Sunday, followed by Minar against Blake.

The United States, who have won the title 31 times though not since 1995, have made it clear they are very serious about their Davis Cup campaign this year.

World number four Roddick, Roger Federer's semi-final victim in Australia, Blake and the formidable doubles pairing of Australian Open champions Bob and Mike Bryan are heavily favoured to win the tie.

The 22-year-old Minar is ranked 160 in the world and is on the Czech team for the first time.

The Bryan brothers are the top-ranked doubles team in the world, while Blake has beaten Berdych twice, in 2005 and 2006.

However, the lanky Czech beat Roddick in their single encounter in Madrid last year.

This is the sixth Davis Cup meeting between the countries with the US leading 4-1, although the last three encounters have all been decided in the fifth rubber. The US suffered their only loss to the Czechs in 1996 but got revenge in 2000.

REUTERS SAM PM1813