Roddick wants to help win Cup

SAN DIEGO – Andy Roddick is determined to help the United States win another Davis Cup, no matter how long it takes.

“Davis Cup is definitely on the top of my list of priorities,” Roddick said Tuesday, talking about the busy schedule he and other players have.

The United States has won the Davis Cup 31 times, but not since 1995, so Roddick and the current crop of young players have yet to take it.

“That’s something that’s a huge, huge goal for me personally and for us as a team,” he said. “It would be so tough not having accomplished that goal, then to sit out and not commit to it.

“I’ve told the captain (Patrick McEnroe) that I’m committed to this cause as long as he wants me here.”

Roddick and James Blake will play singles, and twins Bob and Mike Bryan doubles in Davis Cup first-round matches against Romania that open here on Friday.

Last year, the U.S. team of Roddick, Andre Agassi and the Bryan brothers lost to eventual champion Croatia in the opening round.

Although the United States is heavily favored against Romanian singles players Victor Hanescu and Andrei Pavel and the doubles team of Razvan Sabau and Horia Tecau, McEnroe is cautious heading into the best-of-5 matches.

“Romania has a couple of very tough players, good guys that are veterans,” he said. “Pavel especially has played a lot of good Davis Cup. Hanescu has had a very good last year, especially. … We expect a tough match. We’re certainly looking to be primed and ready to go.”

Only 23, Roddick is a Davis Cup veteran with a 17-6 record since making his first appearance for the U.S. team in 2001.

He smiled and recalled contributing to the American team even earlier, as a 10-year-old fan at the final in Texas in 1992.

John McEnroe and Pete Sampras played on the winning doubles team as the United States downed Switzerland 3-1.

“One of the cool things I remember is the Swiss people brought their big cowbells,” Roddick said.