It would have been some finish.  Can you imagine, had ANDY RODDICK been able to defeat IVAN LJUBICIC Sunday, instead of losing to him in 5 sets 4-6, 6-3, 7-6, 6-7, 6-2, the table would have been set for ANDRE AGASSI to once again come to the rescue.  He's done it so many times, not only in DAVIS CUP, where he helped the US bring home 3 titles, but also throughout his many years of playing singles.  How many times has AGASSI come back in a match to win in 5 sets?  The scenario was a fable within a metaphor, set inside a dream.

 But the dream turned into a nightmare on the racket of one IVAN LJUBICIC.  Playing at the top of his game, he nearly single-handedly chalked up all 3 points to take this tie for CROATIA.  MARIO ANCIC did team up with him Saturday for the doubles point, but without a doubt, this was IVAN'S showcase.

 He had ANDRE AGASSI, the number 9 player in the world, and ANDY RODDICK, the number 3 player in the world, scratching their heads in dejection at the post-match press conferences.  Not bad for a player who has never cracked the top 10.  It won't be long.  “I think all around the world is going to be big news because to beat ANDRE, BRYANS, and RODDICK in three days.  I think it’s great effort.  I realize that.  I really, when I came here, was thinking if I could just win one singles, just to keep up the momentum and just to keep the confidence.  But< I mean, I did all the way, it is so amazing!”

 LJUBICIC had the same hand in defeating the US in 2003, but he is clearly playing his best tennis this year.  Taking the world's number 1, ROGER FEDERER to 3 sets in 3 finals this season no doubt had plenty to do with it.  IVAN said as much after his win Sunday. "For me, as I said before, I feel now if I play my tennis, if I play my game, that I can-not I can, that I’m going to beat everyone.  Even ROGER, the last two times I lost like tight matches, and I think he’s the best player by far at this moment in the world.  Just these two matches against him gave me huge confidence for this period of time.”

 He lost the first set 6-4, and it looked like RODDICK would do his part to get the US this first round win.  After all, LJUBICIC had to be tired, after sweeping AGASSI Friday and beating the BRYAN brothers Saturday.  Normally a country fields a doubles team separate and apart from its singles competitors.

 RODDICK realized he squandered an opportunity to take advantage of IVAN being a bit tired.  “I felt great going into the fifth set.  I knew I still had my legs under me and that, you know, he was kind of dogging on some balls there, you know late in the fourth set.”  ANDY was right about that.  LJUBICIC did seem to stumble at the end of the 4^th set, allowing RODDICK to tie the match up.  But he came out ready for the 5^th, breaking RODDICK at love and that, for all intents and purposes, was the match.  ANDY put it succinctly, “I just played a loose game.  Bottom line I didn’t make him play good tennis.  You know I feel like I was the fresher of the two of us.  I just pissed away a game there in the first game.”

 Who was fresher is open for debate.  LJUBICIC never really looked tired or worried on the court.  He was like a machine all weekend, just gliding from side to side, and churning out the points.  “I actually had cramps against ANDRE in the end of the second set, and I felt much more tired there than today.  Today I felt really good.  I could go forever I had the feeling.”

 The day started off hopeful, as ANDRE AGASSI took some practice swings on center court in front of the arriving crowd.  He looked much more sprite than he did on Friday, and it was apparent he was prepared to hold his end of the tie.  But LJUBICIC never allowed him the chance.

 Tennis has a bit of a schizophrenic relationship with its fans.  Think about it.  By the time LJUBICIC had won, most of those in attendance had been at the stadium more than 4 hours.  The tension was building over the first 4 sets and had ANDY RODDICK put up an effort in the final set, it would have been pandemonium.  Had he won, there would have been the tremendous moment when ANDRE AGASSI takes the court to redeem his name and reputation.

 No doubt he would have summoned up the classic AGASSI spirit and grit, and quite possibly could have pulled this victory out for the UNITED STATES.  Can you imagine the emotion, the wild abandon that would have engulfed HOME DEPOT CENTER?  And, after another 3-hour match, with time for warm up for the new players, those in attendance who would have stayed would be going on close to 8 hours of dedication to their sport.  Now how many other athletic competitions can say that about their fans?

 And it's not as if the fans are treated that well.  There is a strange, almost eerie edge that happens in a tennis match, just before a player serves.  The players, the fans, and the chair umpire all have come to expect utter silence just as a player is about to blast the ball.  In the few second run up to that abyss the crowd screams wildly, extolling their side and taunting the opponent.  But there must be dead silence, and no one moving to or from their seat when play is resumed.

 Chair umpire LARS GRAFF repeatedly had to admonish the crowd, even scolding and mocking them, "Please", nearly every time they stepped over that magical moment when they were supposed to shut up.  It's definitely a love-hate thing.  I'm not sure what it is about hitting a tennis ball that is so fundamentally different than hitting a baseball coming 100 mph, or sinking a free throw that can win the game, but tennis has somehow sold that bag of goods.  Can you imagine that happening at a football game?  Pulllease! 

 And the crowds at DAVIS CUP matches are several notches "worse" than you're average tennis fan.  They're more like soccer fans, in Europe, not at HOME DEPOT.  The many Croatians in attendance, bedecked in their flags and all things red and white checkerboard were unfazed by these strictures.  Victory, and the prince of ties, IVAN LJUBICIC, was theirs.

 Sunday’s attendance was 6,584 and the total for the weekend was 18.760-marking the largest 3-day crowd on record for the first round home US DAVIS CUP tie.  LJUBIC, AGASSI and RODDICK will be in Indian Wells for the PACIFIC LIFE OPEN, one of only 6 tennis tournaments worldwide that feature the best players in the world over a 2-week tournament.  On the men’s side ROGER FEDERER, MARAT SAFIN and LLEYTON HEWITT are scheduled to compete, with LINDSAY DAVENPORT, fresh off her win in Dubai leading an up-and-coming pack of RUSSIAN women.

 For more information, and to purchase tickets go to www.pacificlifeopen.com

ANDRE AGASSI had given it all up; the added practice time, the 5 set matches, the pressure of winning for your teammates and for your country.  He put his time in, playing for 10 DAVIS CUP teams, helping the UNITED STATES to win 3 championships.  Somehow, after a 4-year hiatus, coach PATRICK McENROE convinced him to return.

 On Friday, after his thorough whipping at the hands of IVAN LJUBICIC, ANDRE, in a stunning admission, hoped RODDICK and the BRYAN twins could do their part so he wouldn't be needed Sunday afternoon.  “I’d like to not be needed on Sunday, to be quite honest.  It would be nice if we could have ANDY take care of business and the doubles.”  As if by screenplay, that scenario did not materialize, and it will be ANDRE AGASSI in the day's final match, carrying the flag, and the pressure of a US first round victory in DAVIS CUP 2005.

 That is, if ANDY RODDICK can defeat IVAN LJUBICIC.  RODDICK is the world's number 3 tennis player, with perhaps the best serve in the game.  But LJUBICIC is unbeatable right now.  He has won 22 matches in 2005, the most by any man in the sport this year.  And he is 5-0 against the Americans in DAVIS CUP.  He is 14th in the rankings, but he is playing way above that right now.

 RODDICK commented on LJUBICIC after his win Friday night, “He’s playing great so far this year.  There’s no doubt about it.  He’s beaten quality players.  He’s found a level of consistency that he hasn’t showed before.  Obviously, he’s playing with a lot of confidence right now and he thinks he can beat anyone going into a match, and for good reason. 

So it’s going to be tough for me.  I’m pretty good, too.  We should have a good one.”

On Saturday, IVAN and MARIO ANCIC handed MIKE and BOB BRYAN their first DAVIS CUP defeat.  They had been 5-0 before LJUBICIC.  They had not lost a set in DAVIS CUP competition.  IVAN and MARIO put an end to that, dealing them 3 set losses in a row.

 The BRYANS came out smoking, winning the first set 6-3 with some amazing quickness and evident determination.

 The second set went to a tiebreak, where the twins had 3 set points, one of them on their serve, but they just couldn't control the rallies.  LJUBICIC wouldn't let them.  ANCIC and LJUBICIC won the tiebreak 10-8 with a volley that left MIKE BRYAN sprawled out on the court.  BOB helped him to his feet, and they gamely sprinted back to their bench (it's actually a sporty little loveseat, but I digress), but it was the beginning of the end.

 LJUBICIC and ANCIC went on to win the match 3-6, 7-6(8), 6-4, 6-4.  LJUBICIC seemed to get stronger as the match went on. 

 So, it is up to RODDICK and AGASSI to keep the US in this competition.  Can RODDICK put the brakes on IVAN LJUBICIC?  Will AGASSI be able to summons up the energy to save the US once more?  How much will the Croatians have left?  They are essentially a 2-man team, with LJUBICIC and ANCIC doing it all.  Will they have enough left to win 1 of these 2 matches?

 Could the organizers have scripted this thing any better?

They call the matches between countries in DAVIS CUP competitions ties, and o far this tie is a tie.  After the first day the UNITED STATES and CROATIA each have 1 point, in their quest to attain 3 and win this best of 5 event.

 In the first match at the HOME DEPOT CENTER, IVAN LJUBICIC dismantled ANDRE AGASSI in straight sets 6-3, 7-6(0), 6-3.  AGASSI really never got anything going in the first set as LJUBIBIC did what he wanted.  He came into this match tied with ROGER FEDERER with the most wins on the tour at 20; and he has been in 4 finals this year without winning a title.  That anomaly is primarily the doing of FEDERER, who beat him in 3 of those championships.

 LJUBICIC'S game is not unlike FEDERER'S.  He has a powerful serve, evidenced by 18 aces in this match, one a booming 141 mph late in the 3rd set.  He finished a dominating tiebreak in the 2nd set with 2 consecutive aces. 

 At 6'4" he moves with a quickness and fluidity that belie his size.  Perhaps only FEDERER and his teammate MARIO ANCIC, who measures in at 6'5", move any better on the tennis court.

 And he has got the shots.  His backhand is lethal, like FEDERER’S.  And he gave ANDRE fits all day with high bouncing defensive shots, particularly on his second serve.

 AGASSI, who doesn't lose often in DAVIS CUP matches, really only mustered a brief run, that being in the 2nd set, where he caught LJUBICIC napping on the baseline with 3 or 4 nicely timed drop shots to his forehand.  It was the only shot all day that AGASSI seemed to master.  He got his only break to go up 4-2, and then consolidated it to lead 5-2, before IVAN came storming back.

 LJUBICIC got the set into a tiebreak where he embarrassed AGASSI 7-0. 

Afterwards in the press conference a clearly dejected ANDRE AGASSI had little explanation. “You know, today was one of those days I just never got settled, never got comfortable.  So yeah, it was just frustrating.  You’re trying hard to figure things out, and sometimes you wonder if you’re just trying too hard, it’s just about relaxing.  Other times, you know, you don’t know if you need to be more aggressive.  I was useless, to be quite honest, as far as being clear on what was going on out there.”

 ANDRE was a little hard on himself.  The fact is IVAN LJUBICIC is one of the hottest layers on the tour right now, playing far better than his career high 14^th ranking would indicate.  In his press conference, IVAN pointed to his improved confidence and fitness as factors in his victory.  “My fitness has improved a lot because I can play matches over and over, you know winning a lot of matches, playing three tournaments, three tournament finals in a row, you definitely have to be fit.  That’s something I improved a lot in the last two years, I think.”

 In the following match it seemed CROATIA would sweep the day.  MARIO ANCIC, ranked 23rd in the world, was having his way with ANDY RODDICK in the first set, breaking his much-feared serve twice, en route to a 6-4 win.

 But RODDICK, who was a practice player at age 17 for a DAVIS CUP team that featured ANDRE AGASSI and PETE SAMPRAS as the heroes, would not let his teammates down.  He found his serve, and his ground strokes were superb, as he went on to demoralize ANCIC 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 in the next 3 sets.

 The match featured some of the best rallies seen in the men's game this year, save FEDERER/SAFIN.  ANCIC is also playing some of the best tennis in his life, and he has big skills.  But he tends to get down on himself, and after the first set he just let the match get away from him.

 The BRYAN brothers, ranked number 2 in the world, seek to get point number 2 in this tie.  They are scheduled to play at 2:30pm against ANCIC and LJUBICIC.  Now that should be some match.

The original Team Tennis is here!  DAVIS CUP is an international tennis competition, the largest on the planet, with some 134 nations participating.  There are 16 teams that have qualified for the Elite World group competition in 2005, with the United States taking on Croatia in the first round, right here in Los Angeles at the Home Depot Center this weekend.

In ceremonies held today, the order of play was determined, as GAVIN ROSSDALE, formerly of NO DOUBT, and now the lead singer of BUSH, pulled a single name from a vessel.  That name was IVAN LJUBICIC, the number 1 seed for Croatia, who will play ANDRE AGASSI, the number 2 seed for the US.  That match starts at 1pm Friday March 4th, with ANDY RODDICK, the number 1 seed for the US playing MARIO ANCIC, the number 2 seed for Croatia to follow.

ANCIC and LJUBICIC are currently slated to play doubles on Saturday against MIKE and BOB BRYAN.  On Sunday AGASSI is scheduled to play ANCIC and RODDICK will play LJUBICIC.  A point is awarded for each of the 5 matches.  The first team to bag 3 points wins the competition.

 This is the second time these two teams have faced each other.  In 2003 Croatia beat the United States 4-1 in a first round match in Zagreb, Croatia. 

 This weekend marks the return of ANDRE AGASSI to Davis Cup play, after a 4-year layoff.  “I couldn't play full time anymore. I just couldn't commit to that. It takes way too much and I didn't know how much I had left. I wanted to play this game as long as possible...It was either all or nothing." But ANDRE seems to have settled in to his return to Davis Cup play, "It feels great, better than I remember it. We've had a great few weeks together. This is where it really gets fun."

ANDRE represented the US in Davis Cup play from 1988-1993, in 1995, in 1997, 1998 and 2000.  With 2 singles matches he can move into second place all time for Davis Cup matches played at 37.  Only JOHN McENROE with 49 has played more.

 The Croatians are riding high with both ANCIC and LJUBICIC coming into the competition with career high ATP rankings.  LJUBICIC is 14^th; ANCIC is 23^rd.  IVAN LJUBICIC is tied with ROGER FEDERER with the most wins on the tour in 2005, with a 20-6 record.  He lost to FEDERER in the Dubai final in 3 sets last Sunday.  Three of his 6 losses in 2005 were to FEDERER, who by the way opted not to play for his Switzerland.

 In other first round matches this weekend SPAIN plays SLOVAKIA, SWITZERLAND takes on the NETHERLANDS, AUSTRALIA plays AUSTRIA, ARGENTINA challenges the CZECH REPUBLIC, CHILE meets RUSSIA, SWEDEN plays FRANCE and ROMANIA takes on BELARUS.

 The US made it to the finals in 2004, losing to SPAIN in Seville with ANDY RODDICK losing both his singles matches. "That only makes me hungrier tp try and perform better this year...This is definitely the best team I've been on. We came pretty close last year and we've only gotten better." That sounds hopeful, doesn't it?

 American DWIGHT DAVIS founded the DAVIS CUP in 1900, as a way to founder international competition.  It has grown into one of the most partisan and popular international competitions on the planet.  The second round play will be held July 15^th, with semi-finals in September and the finals in December.

 Tickets are available at: http://www.ticketmaster.com

PATRICK McENROE got his man.  He had been courting ANDRE AGASSI to play on the DAVIS CUP team for years.  He put the full-court press on at the Australian Open where ANDRE lost to ROGER FEDERER in the quarterfinals.  He sealed the deal in Las Vegas at the Bellagio over lunch just last week.  ANDRE last played for the US team almost 5 years ago.

 So the US team will consist of AGASSI and ANDY RODDICK playing singles, with the BRYAN BROTHERS playing doubles.  Their first round matches begin March 6, right here in Los Angles, well sort of, in Carson, at the Home depot Center against Croatia.  The Croatian team includes IVAN LJUBICIK, ranked 22nd, MARIO ANCIC, ranked 30^th, and IVO KARLOVIC, ranked 60^th.  LJUBICIC and ANCIC won the bronze medal at the Olympics in the 2004 men’s doubles competition.

 AGASSI, who turns 35 in April, is ranked number 10 in the world.  RODDICK is ranked number 3.  The doubles team of MIKE and BOB BRYAN are ranked number 2 in the world.

 In the only other meeting between Croatia and the US, in the first round of the 2003 Davis Cup competition, Croatia beat the United States.  ANDRE AGASSI was not on that team!

 Tickets are available at Ticketmaster, 213.480.3232, or go to ticketmaster.com.

The first grand slam of the tennis season is over, but if you love tennis, what a treat!  The 2005 AUSTRALIAN OPEN had some of the most competitive and enjoyable matches in a long, long time.  Not bad for the 100th year anniversary of this competition.

 On the women's side, questions about whether the WILLIAMS sisters could regain their form swirled about.  Just 2 years ago they dominated the major tournaments, and it seemed no one could wrest the crown from either VENUS or SERENA.   But injuries crept in, as well as personal tragedy with the death of their sister, and both girls fell from their ranks.  VENUS came into this tournament seeded 8th; SERENA 7th.

 It seemed the decline of the WILLIAMS would open the door for the Belgian "sisters", JUSTIN HENIN-HARDENNE and KIM CLIJSTERS.  But neither competed in this tournament, still recovering from physical setbacks, as was JENNIFER CAPRIATI, who won this tournament in 2002 and 2003.  For some added drama, the king and queen of the tour, LLEYTON HEWITT and KIM CLISJTERS split in October 2004.  They were the darlings of the tour, particularly at this event, and were engaged.  (LLEYTON announced at the end of the tournament a new engagement to Australian actress REBECCA CARTWRIGHT.  He supposedly proposed just after the conclusion of the championship match.)

 The story in woman's tennis in 2004 was the Russians.  ANASTACIA MYSKINA won the French.  MARIA SHARAPOVA beat SERENA at WIMBLEDON.  And SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA won her first grand slam at the US OPEN.  None of them came into this tournament seeded number 1.  That honor went to LINDSAY DAVENPORT, who hadn't won a grand slam since 2000, but played some of her best tennis in 2004 to finish the year on top.  This, despite her hints of retiring following her semi-final finish at WIMBLEDON.

 So the stage was set for some of the most interesting matches on the women's side in some time.  The wild card in all of it was a player by the name of ALICIA ,MOLIK, an Australian no less, seeded 10th.  MOLIK was by far the hottest player coming into the tournament, and it soon showed.  She met VENUS WILLIAMS in the 4^th round, advancing easily.  Neither player had lost a set to that point, and in a thrilling match, MOLIK ousted VENUS in straight sets, 7-5, 7-6(3).

 This tournament has a rule that no tiebreakers are allowed in the final set, and that rule would be called upon more than once before the tournament was completed.

 MOLIK went as far as the next round, losing another exciting match to LINDSAY DAVENPORT, 6-4, 4-6, 9-7.  Somehow DAVENPORT held on at the end in the face of a roaring home crowd, and an unfazed MOLIK, who showed no fear despite the momentous occasion.  It was one of the best matches in the tournament.

 DAVENPORT next faced French woman, NATHALIE DECHY, who was seeded 19, but took out the 14^th seed FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE and the number 3 seed ANASTACIA MYSKINA in straight sets, as well as PATTY SCHNYDER, the 12^th seed, in a 3 set quarterfinal match..  DAVENPORT was tested, but advanced to the finals with a 3 set win, 2-6, 7-6(5), 6-4.

 Meanwhile, on the other side of the draw, SERENA WILLIAMS was struggling to find her game, but survived a number of scares to make it to the quarterfinals.  After VENUS lost to MOLIK, SERENA went off on a reporter during a press conference about whether the level of the sisters’ play was on the decline.  In a long and heated reply, SERENA cited injuries and other emotional matters that had led to the turn of events, but clearly the exchange seemed to motivate her.

 She dismissed AMELIE MAURESMO in straight sets 6-2, 6-2 to advance to the semifinals.  There she met MARIA SHARAPOVA, in a rematch of the WIMBLEDON final.  SHARAPOVA, who ground out an unbelievable win in the quarters over another growing rival, SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2.  The heat in that match really wore the players down, but SHARAPOVA was the stronger one at the end, with some remarkable shots, and some even more remarkable shrieks on every stroke.  Not since MONICA SELES had the Australians seen a player squeal louder or hit harder..

 So the stage was set for a semifinal match between SERENA and MARIA, where the players did not disappoint.  SERENA won in 3 sets 2-6, 7-5, 8-6, but SHARAPOVA let this one get away.  She had 3 match points, 2 of them to win in straight sets, but SERENA fought them off to beat SHARAPOVA.  SERENA is no stranger to fighting back to win this tournament.  She fought off a match point to KIM CLISJTERS in 2003 to win the tile in that year.

 So in an all-American final, SERENA WILLIAMS faced LINDSAY DAVENPORT for the championship.  In the first set it looked like SERENA would have to withdraw as she injured her back, requiring treatment.  But she refused to be broken in the 5^th game of the second set after losing the first 6-2, and after fighting off 5 break points, she won that game, and went on to win the second set 6-3.  She coasted in the final set, 6-0 to win her 7^th grand slam title, and her second Australian championship.

 Meanwhile, on the men’s side, LLEYTON HEWITT was scripting a path through the tournament for the history books.  In his previous attempts HEWITT had never done better than the 4^th round.  And the last Australian to win this tournament was MARK EDMONSON in 1975.  So destiny seemed to be on his side as he advanced to the finals against MARAT SAFIN.

 It was no easy feat to get there.  Along the way LLEYTON had played some grueling matches, starting with American JAMES BLAKE in the second round.  He defeated him in 4 tough sets, 4-6, 7-6(8), 6-0, 6-3.  The tiebreak in the second set could have easily gone the other way, leaving HEWITT 2 sets down.  But he survived to face the 25^th seed JUAN IGNACIO CHELA in the 3^rd round.  HEWITT won in another tough 4 set match, 6-2, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4.

 LLEYTON next faced Spaniard RAFAEL NADAL.  He won, but not before going 5 sets, 7-5, 3-6, 1-6, 7-6, 6-2.  NADAL had him on the ropes, but let him ought in the 4^th set, and eventually in that 4^th set tiebreak.

 HEWITT’S next opponent was 9^th seeded DAVID NALBANDIAN.  In a classic match that also went 5 sets, HEWITT hung on to beat the Argentine 6-3, 6-2, 1-6, 3-6, 10-8.  NALBANDIAN clearly had the momentum going into the 5^th and final set, but somehow HEWITT mustered the strength, no doubt with great assistance from the roaring, standing room only crowd, to advance to the semifinals.

 There he met ANDY RODDICK who was far more rested than HEWITT.  RODDICK’S opponent in the quarterfinals, NIKOLAY DAVYDENKO retired in the 3^rd set, and RODDICK had not been tested with a 5 set match in the tournament.  GREG RUSEDSKI was the only man to push him to 4 sets.  But it was HEWITT who seemed more fit, winning in 4 sets, 3-6, 7-6(3), 7-6(4), 6-1.  RODDICK, whose big serves usually carry him through during tiebreakers, lost both to HEWITT.

 The gods seemed to be working with LLEYTON during this tournament, seeing to it that the unpredictable MARAT SAFIN eliminated the number 1 seed, and untouchable, ROGER FEDERER.  FEDERER beat SAFIN in last year’s final, but SAFIN somehow outplayed FEDERER in the semis 5-7, 6-4, 5-7, 7-6(6), 9-7.  It was a superb match with both men making shots mere mortals could not achieve.

 SAFIN plays his best tennis in this tournament, having made it to the finals on 2 other occasions.  He eliminated ANDRE AGASSI and ANDY RODDICK in an impressive run, before losing to FEDERER last year.  In 2002 SAFIN lost to THOMAS JOHANSSON in the finals.  MARAT won the US OPEN in 2000, beating PETE SAMPRAS in straight sets for his only grand slam title.

 The third time was the charm for SAFIN as he beat back history, destiny and the home crowd to defeat a game LLEYTON HEWITT, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.  After a slow start he dominated the match, almost winning easily.

 It was a truly classic men’s competition that saw all 4 seeds come through to the semis, and nearly saw a historic feat by Australia’s beloved son, in a valiant effort.  It was surely some of thee best tennis in a long time, and it gets the tennis season underway in fine style.