US-Croatia Tied at 1-1
Agassi feels the pressure while Roddick steps up
Andre: 'Any time you care about something greatly, you put more pressure on yourself'

By Matthew Cronin, TennisReporters.net

Cynthia Lum/WireImage.com

Andre Agassi couldn't look much worst than in his straight-set mauling by Ivan Ljubicic in his return to Davis Cup play.

FROM THE US-CROATIA TIE IN CARSON, CALIF. – When a player is 30-5 entering a Davis Cup tie, there are few occasions when he looks bad. Andre Agassi was completely out of sorts in his 6-3, 7-6(0), 6-3 loss to Ivan Ljubicic, possibly more so than the last time he fell in Davis Cup in straight sets, back in 1990 in Austria to Thomas Muster.

But this loss was more significant in many ways because the hype surrounding his return to the team has been tremendous, leading many fans to believe that his Third Coming (he left the team twice before) heralded a new age in US Davis Cup dominance. What's been put aside is that he's 34, has been troubled by injuries much of the year and really has not had a great season even when he's playing well.

Moreover, even though he's a former eight-time Slam champ and No. 1, everyone in the sport is still prone to putting too much pressure on himself. Agassi knew the world was watching his return match, put too much pressure on himself to win it and as a result, played tight all day.

He admitted as much.

"I don't mind what would be perceived as pressure, the expectation of me playing," Agassi said. "But it's more about my own perspective and it does mean a lot to me. Any time you care about something greatly, you put more pressure on yourself. You would think that when you get older you are more equipped to deal with that. But I'm putting up a good argument for it to be the opposite."

But once again, Andy Roddick put up an even stronger argument that he knows how to respond to pressure when he's playing on his home soil. He's undefeated in the US and on hard courts in Cup play and, on Friday, was flat out phenomenal in the last three sets of his 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 victory over Mario Ancic.

The US-Croatia tie is at 1-1 going into Saturday's doubles, when the undefeated twins Bob and Mike Bryan will take on Ljubicic/Ancic at the somewhat full Home Depot Center.

andy blows out ancic in last three sets
Even though Ljubicic and Ancic have both been playing Top-20 level tennis the past month, Roddick still sees his group as the favorite. "If I sat up here and told you no, I would expect you to come up here and slap me," Roddick said. "We thought we were the favorites going into the tie. At 1-1, we have the best doubles team in the world going. With myself and Andre going on Sunday, I like our chances. But they are playing great and it's not going to be easy."

Roddick bellowed, fist pumped and stuck out his chest all match long. It was the old Roddick: cocksure of himself at home and not doubting his ability to control points.

"I just had to let it go," said Roddick. "A couple of times in the past six months I've kept it in a little, even tried to make the adjustment. But that's not who I am. Especially in Davis Cup, it's a little more accepted to lose your mind."

Susan Mullane/Camerawork USA

Showing his fist-pump fire, Andy Roddick dominated Mario Ancic.

But he really didn't lose focus, playing a beautiful game of cat and mouse from the baseline and returning deep and with precision.

"It was a heck of a match," US Captain Patrick McEnroe said. "He did so many things well. He defended well, stepped in the court exceptionally well and used his forehand to go on offense. The last three sets, he played phenomenally solid."

Agassi was nothing of the sort. Back when he lost to Muster, he was a long haired 19-year-old with few ideas how to construct a point,. Now he's a 34-year-old with millions of thoughts (and options) as to where to go with the ball. No one in tennis waxes more eloquently on Xs and Os than Andre. But that's when he thinking clearly.

In his defeat to Ljubicic, Agassi had little idea what strategies to employ, what shots would work for him and what wouldn't. He was so desperate at times that he approached his private coach, Darren Cahill, for tips and had McEnroe approach Cahill for advice three times.

"My game wasn't settled. I wasn't comfortable," said Agassi. "I didn't know if I should be stepping more forward on his shots, be more aggressive or back up a little and relax into it. I was looking for anything to get a rhythm. It's important for me that my average shot is effective, that my meat and potatoes shot is getting me a look at taking the lead in the point. I didn't know if it was because I wasn't hitting it too big, or not putting a clean swing on the ball. I still don't know."

lost opportunity in second set
Agassi looked like he was going to seize control in the second set when he played three brilliant games to take a 4-2 lead, but one never got the sense that he could keep it going. He simply couldn't string together long series of solid games and failed to serve out the set at 5-3. He was then was totally overwhelmed in the tiebreak, when Ljubicic scorched five winners including two aces to close out the set.

"There was nothing going on out there that would have suggest I was on the verge of playing great," Agassi said.

Ljubicic has improved remarkably over the past coupe of years. It's tough to get the towering Croatia moving, because both his serves are gigantic and his kick serve usually produce a weak reply. He moves quite well for a man 6-foot-4, has a huge forehand and consistent backhand. He rarely made unforced errors at crucial moments and kept his cool the whole way, even after Agassi exploded on umpire Lars Graf in the sixth game of the third set for overruling a lines person on game point. (Agassi yelled, "Oh, so now you're a fucking tennis expert."). Not surprisingly, Agassi doubled faulted to lose the game and go down 2-4. Less stunning was that he had little left after that against a player who's had a far better 2005 and fell quickly after that.

McEnroe agreed that Agassi was tight, but believes he'll live to fight another day – maybe on Sunday in the fifth and deciding match against Ancic.

"Everyone gets nervous playing Davis Cup, even Agassi," McEnroe said. "He's played so much, but it's been a while. He put pressure on himself and tried to play too well. … But we're in this as a team and win and lose together. We have tremendous belief and respect for Andre. We feel real good about what he'll bring to the table to Sunday."