Roddick and Blake to lead US Davis Cup charge

NEW YORK, Jan 31 (Reuters) World number four Andy Roddick and number six James Blake will once again spearhead US Davis Cup efforts after being named to the squad today that will face the Czech Republic in a first-round tie.

Also selected to the team that will travel to Ostrava for the February 9-11 clash is the doubles partnership of Bob and Mike Bryan, who are coming off a successful defence of their doubles title at Australian Open.

US captain Patrick McEnroe has gone with the same line-up that carried the US. to the last year's semi-finals before falling to Russia.

Despite opening the campaign on indoor clay courts, McEnroe believes his squad must be ranked among the favourites and in a position to end the longest Davis Cup drought in US history.

The US has claimed a record 31 Davis Cup titles but has not celebrated a championship since 1995.

''We're in the hunt again this year,'' McEnroe said during a teleconference. ''But we all know playing away on clay is tough for us.

''The players have been committed to playing every year.

Since I've been the captain Andy Roddick has missed one tie and that's because he was injured.

''We've been pretty lucky our best guys have been there and now with James solidly in the top 10 and the number one doubles team I think I can say, we're in the hunt and we're one of the favourites to go all the way.'' A victory in Ostrava would send the US through to the quarter-finals where they would host either Spain or Switzerland in April.

Roddick, who had his Australian Open title hopes dashed with a crushing semi-final loss to Roger Federer, has been the cornerstone of recent US Davis Cup challenges posting a record of 20-9 since making his debut in 2001.

Blake, who has one tournament win this season and reached the fourth round in Melbourne, has emerged as a consistent threat, providing the US with a potent one-two punch in the singles competition.

Reuters SBA VP0320