U.S. Open: Bryan brothers not invited to Davis Cup

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Usually no one cares much about Davis Cup play in the United States. Unless it happens that during the U.S. Open it is announced by the United States Tennis Association (USTA) that 10-year captain Patrick McEnroe is stepping down. Or McEnroe announces that for the first time since 2003 that Bob and Mike Bryan, the twins from Camarillo who have won more doubles titles than any team in history, will not play when the United States travels to Bogota, Colombia, in a week to play a tie that the U.S. must win in order to stay in the world group.

If the U.S. loses to Colombia, it will not be eligible to play for the Davis Cup title next year and must play in the qualifying group.

McEnroe, who said he was stepping aside because of the need to spend more time in his position as general manager of the USTA’s Player Development Program, is taking Sam Querrey, John Isner, Mardy Fish and 18-year-old sensation Ryan Harrison. Querrey, Isner and Fish are all capable doubles players and McEnroe said that he was concerned that Bogota’s high elevation (and the possibility that someone could succumb to altitude sickness) made it imperative that he have extra singles players.

Despite being asked about a dozen different ways if he and his brother were angry over what could be seen as a slight or felt disrespected because of their outspoken loyalty to playing Davis Cup, Mike was emphatic in saying that wasn’t the case (Mike spoke because Bob was playing late mixed doubles).

‘We respect Pat’s decision,’ said Mike, who added it wasn’t a possibility that one of the brothers might have gone without the other. ‘We’re a package deal. We would have liked to have played but this is a unique situation with the altitude. Most teams bring three singles guys any way. We’ll be available for a lot more ties.’

-- Diane Pucin, reporting from New York