Weekly net post: Courier, after winning debut, USA look ahead

SANTIAGO, Chile — By taking care of business against underdog Chile here during the weekend, the U.S. Davis Cup team has positioned itself for one of the better quarterfinal matchups in memory: A mouthwatering quarterfinal clash with Rafael Nadal-led Spain.

Andy Roddick assured that scenario for the start of the Jim Courier captaincy with another come-through performance.

The eighth-ranked American won both of his singles matches during the weekend, including the clincher on Sunday against pesky Paul Capdeville 3-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-3, 6-3. That gave the USA an insurmountable 3-1 lead in its 4-1 victory in the World Group series.

• Roddick improved his U.S.-best record in matches that can clinch a Davis Cup tie to a gaudy 12-0. He is 33-11 overall in 24 ties since 2001.

"I think we can all tip our hat to that achievement and hope for more of them," said four-time major winner Courier, who took over as captain when Patrick McEnroe stepped down last fall.

Now the question is whether the mix of veterans, emerging stars and doubles specialists that make up the U.S. team has the ingredients to take down Spain and go on to win the title.

While Roddick, John Isner and Mike and Bob Bryan were tapped for the Chile matchup, Courier has stressed "the concept of a six-man team."

That means he will go with the best lineup at the time from among those four as well as Mardy Fish and Sam Querrey, who didn't make the trip because of physical setbacks.

"We have a lot of options at our disposal, and we're going to need options," Courier said Sunday.

Spain, which beat Belgium 4-1, has won the Davis Cup four times in its history compared to a record 32 for the USA. All of their titles have all come since 2000, while the Americans have won just one Davis Cup title in the last 15 years — a victory against Russia in Portland, Ore., in 2007.

The reason? Depth.

Spain not only has the top-ranked player in Nadal, it counts two other top-10 players in David Ferrer and Fernando Verdasco, plus numerous role players such as doubles standout Feliciano Lopez. Its eight players in the top 40 (as of Sunday) are more than any country.

But in Davis Cup, paper rankings often have little bearing on results.

The 111-year-old competition is about particular mixes and matchups, health, commitment and, of course, home-court advantage. In few sports is that so valuable, since the host team chooses both venue and surface — anything from lightning-slick indoor carpet to mud-like outdoor clay.

The USA is 4-0 vs. Spain at home and 1-4 away.

"It's a big part of who wins," said Courier, who helped the USA to Davis Cup titles in 1992 and 1995.

After four consecutive ties on the road, the USA is in the enviable position of facing Spain at home — and it just might be in Roddick's backyard.

"I think it's been no secret that I have wanted it for a long time," Roddick said of that prospect, which he called a "blockbuster matchup."

"It would be a dream come true to play at home," he added.

Though Spain is a formidable foe, Roddick doesn't see it or any nation as a prohibitive favorite. He called the current group of quarterfinalists as evenly matched as any competition he's played in.

"There is not a favorite," he said. "There are probably five or six teams that are very, very good. I do consider us one of those teams."

The Americans are also diverse.

The USA can count on veterans such as Roddick and the Bryans, who have anchored the team for most of the last decade. The Bryans can almost always be counted on for that Saturday doubles point: They are 17-2 in Davis Cup play. And the USA has role players such as Fish, who came up huge in last fall's relegation tie against Colombia in Bogota. And it has upstarts such as Querrey and Isner who are eager to make their mark.

Bob Bryan thinks the components are there to go deep.

"Everyone is at a great spot in their career," he said following the USA's straight-sets win on Saturday against Nicolas Massu and Jorge Aguilar. "Everyone has experience. Everyone is confident and playing well. Andy has been a rock for this team for 10-plus years. You've got eager guys like Sam and John who haven't done it before. So they are chomping at the bit to make a Davis Cup mark. And Mardy Fish, who has proved he is clutch in this situation. You put Jim on top of that and I think we got some stuff we can work with."

Things could break the USA's way, though the road in Davis Cup rarely moves straight ahead.

Nadal is one of many wild cards. Although the nine-time Grand Slam champion indicated he intends to play in July, the reigning French Open and Wimbledon winner could take a pass if he is worn out after a part of the season in which he typically excels.

Nadal, who has also had several injury layoffs, skipped last year's quarterfinal when Spain lost 5-0 to France.

"My decision is always that I will play, but I don't know what will happen in four months, if I will be tired or as fresh as a daisy, I can't say," the 24-year-old said following Spain's 4-1 defeat of Belgium this weekend.

Either way, it will be tough.

"Spain brings an incredibly difficult challenge to any team they face," Courier said. "This time we get them on our terms, on our turf."