Patrick McEnroe, tennis commentator for ESPN television, works in the booth this week at the ATP Tennis Center in Mason. (Gary Landers photo) | ZOOM |

        ESPN analyst Patrick McEnroe, in town for this week's Western & Southern Financial Group Masters, was named U.S. Davis Cup captain in December 2000, replacing his brother John.

        McEnroe's second team faces defending champion France Sept. 20-22 in the 2002 semifinals. It's the first meeting between the countries at Roland Garros in Paris in 70 years. McEnroe took a few minutes after a late-night telecast to answer five questions from Enquirer reporter Michael Perry.

        Q: Let's start with when you took over as Davis Cup captain. What was your biggest challenge?

        A: Well, I think the biggest thing, to me anyway, was trying to build a nice camaraderie amongst our players and the feeling that we have a real team concept, which is difficult. Every player can't play in every match, so you sort of have to try to make everyone feel like they're part of what we're trying to do. The young guys especially have responded. Having Pete (Sampras) come back and play has been a huge bonus to the young guys as far as inspiring them. So far, I feel like it's working pretty well.

        Q: Andy Roddick (7-0 career, 4-0 this year in Davis Cup) and James Blake (5-0, 3-0) are undefeated in Davis Cup play. What's been the most impressive thing about those two?

        A: I think their enthusiasm and their energy. Obviously they're great players and they're improving a lot, but also their ability to handle the pressure of Davis Cup. They both stepped in completely raw, not having played at all, and played great. I think they've enjoyed being out there and they've responded to the pressure in a positive way.

        Q: What is the difference between playing Davis Cup and playing an ATP Tour event?

        A: It's almost indescribable. I played just doubles in Davis Cup and even that is a huge difference. It's a much different type of pressure. It's something you have to experience to understand it.

        The atmosphere is unique. There are people screaming. You spend a whole week with your team. You're playing not just for yourself and for your country, but I think you really feel a bond with your teammates and the guys on your staff that are there.

        I've worked hard on trying to build that because I think that really matters.

        Q: What do you look for in a guy you're going to select for the Davis Cup team?

        A: My job, in a sense, is pretty easy. I'm a front-runner. The guys that play well and win matches are the guys I'm obviously going to look at more closely. Secondly, their attitude, because I think that's critical in Davis Cup. In Davis Cup, it's best-of-five (sets). I think you have to have more experience playing big matches, like Grand Slams in singles. Athleticism, I think, is important. It's rare in Davis Cup that someone who doesn't have what I call “a big game“ can win. I think your weaknesses and strengths become more magnified in Davis Cup. To me, it's almost like playing in a Grand Slam final or semifinal every time you play Davis Cup.

        Q: After you took over, did your brother ask you about playing?

        A: He asks me every match about playing. He always wants to play. I've played enough with him to know he probably could play in doubles for sure and do well. But I think it's time for the younger guys to step up, and I think they're starting to do that. As fun as it would be, as far as the media attention it would get, that would be exciting. But at the end of the day, it wouldn't really work for what I'm trying to build.

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