Fish looks to give U.S. a flying start against Spain

AUSTIN, Texas, July 7 (Reuters) - Mardy Fish will aim to give hosts the United States a winning start in their Davis Cup World Group quarter-final against Spain after being pitted against Feliciano Lopez in the opening match on Friday.

World number eight Fish will play 31st-ranked Lopez on the hard indoor surface at the Frank Erwin Centre before fellow American Andy Roddick, ranked 10th, faces Spaniard David Ferrer (sixth).
American twins Bob and Mike Bryan are scheduled to meet Lopez and Fernando Verdasco in Saturday’s doubles in the best-of-five tie before Fish comes up against Ferrer and Roddick against Lopez in Sunday’s reverse singles.
“I enjoy when I know when I play,” Fish told reporters after Thursday’s draw ceremony in Roddick’s hometown. “I know I play at 2:00 and I think that helps me a lot.
“Getting the first point obviously sets the tone for the tie and we’ve got a pretty good guy (Roddick) coming behind me as well. I won’t feel any extra pressure. We’re looking to get to three (points), and that’s the goal.”
Left-hander Lopez, who like Fish reached the last eight at Wimbledon earlier this month, felt Spain faced one of their biggest Davis Cup challenges in taking on the U.S. on foreign soil.
“Right now, the U.S. team is the toughest to play away,” said Lopez, who upset Roddick in straight sets in the third round at Wimbledon. “If we win here, it will be probably one of our best wins in the Davis Cup ever.”
Spain have won the coveted Davis Cup four times but they are without the services of the talismanic Rafa Nadal against the U.S. in Austin. World number two Nadal pulled out of the Davis Cup clash last month due to “inconsiderate” scheduling.
“Well, of course, he’s been important in this team, no?” said Ferrer. “He’s the No. 2, No. 1 one week ago.
“But I think we have a really good team. We have confidence. We will be with confidence in this tie. It’s going to be a very difficult tie, but we will try the best.”