America’s Sam Querrey drops out of 2011 Davis Cup tie against Chile
World Number 24 Sam Querrey recently announced his intention to skip the first round of the Davis Cup tournament, which is due to begin next week. The American player, who is one of the team’s strongest assets, will consequently be unable to participate
in the Davis Cup tie against host country Chile.
The 23-year-old California native has explained that he sustained a right rotator cuff injury during training. Test results confirmed this, and a number of physicians advised him to rest and refrain from exerting his shoulder any further.
Jim Courier, who is currently in his first year as the new captain of the Davis Cup team, further explained the injury, saying,“Sam has been having trouble with his right shoulder and he got an MRI on Friday that revealed a slight impingement in his rotator
cuff. Doctors have advised him to rest so we thought it was best that he not make the trip to Santiago and get for Indian Wells and Miami.”
Querrey, whose career-high ranking is World Number 17, is one of the better players on the American Davis Cup team. He is currently America’s Number 4, and has been touted by many tennis analysts as the next big thing on the American horizon. Querrey is
also one of the tallest players on the Association of Tennis Professionals [ATP] Tour, standing out at 6 foot 6 inches. His height gives him the advantage of a formidable serve as well as a strong forehand. Former Davis Cup captain Patrick McEnroe termed the
player ‘America’s next great talent’.
The US team will be fighting Chile from 4th March to 11th Match 2011, with the matches being held in a best-of-five tie. The first round will be held on clay at the National Stadium in Chile. Team members include American Number 1 and
long-time Top Ten player Andy Roddick, who will be leading the team as the most highly-ranked player. He is followed by Querrey’s doubles partner John Isner, and brothers Bob and Mike Bryan.
This year is a significant one for Roddick, as he has not participated in any Davis Cup matches since the first tie in 2009. He is the team’s strongest asset, with a total of 31 singles wins in Davis Cup history. This is a record beaten only by tennis great
John McEnroe. The US team has defeated Chile in every meeting between the two countries so far, setting up a head-to-head record of 4-0. Their last contest was at the 2006 Davis Cup quarterfinals in Rancho Mirage, California. Andy Roddick and his two singles
victories were instrumental in the 3-2 win for America.
The winner of the USA-Chile matches will face either Spain or Belgium in the Davis Cup quarterfinals in July, depending on the outcome of their first round tie.
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