The best thing for Courier to do for the team — as hard as it would be — is to play one of the Bryans and Querrey (the twins could flip a coin, maybe?).  Querrey is a strong doubles player, but also can fill the singles line if needed.  The Davis Cup format doesn’t do any favors for players who can’t hang in singles.  As strong as the Bryans are in doubles — and they are the best team in the history of the game — they’d be in serious trouble playing solo on the red dirt.

Of course, Courier still has the option to change his mind (Sam Querrey is supposedly planing to make the trip).  And the Chileans, without an injured Fernando Gonzalez, are weak — their highest ranked player, Paul Capdeville, is 171 in the world, although Nicolas Massu, now 228 in the world, has the most experience, not to mention an Olympic Gold medal.

But that’s one of the great things about Davis Cup.  At home on their own red clay, they’ll have a chance, regardless of the imbalance in rankings.  Not to mention that at the moment Roddick is ill, Querrey’s shoulder is sore, and Mardy Fish is unable to play due to a thyroid problem.

I’m hoping the U.S. will get past this one, Spain beats Belgium, and we’ll be in store for a match-up in the states with the mighty Spaniard team in July.  With Roddick back on the team this year, they have a fighting chance at home.