Dusseldorf, Germany - The US overcame a trio of high-profile injury absences, with James Blake and outsider Wayne Odesnik rising to the doubles occasion to ice a 2-1 win over the Czech Republic at the ARAG World Team Cup. The Monday heroics from the eighth-ranked Blake and unfancied 103 Odesnik helped cushion the surprise absences of Andy Roddick and powerhouse doubles pair of twins Bob and Mike Bryan.
All three were announced as injury pullouts, with Roddick due to miss the French Open due to a back and shoulder problem which sent him home from Rome after a mid-match semi-final pullout only days ago.
Blake and his inexperienced partner combined to defeat Czech number one Tomas Berdych and doubles ace Pavel Vizner 0-6, 7-5, 10-8.
Roddick's brother John, US coach at this week's eight-nation event, revealed that his sibling would stay in the States for the rest of the clay season.
"He had five or six days off and then we had three days of training. Last Friday, the injury flared again. Our specialist in New York said it is inflammation.
"Andy needs ten days to rest and I'd be surprised if he were not ready for Queen's (start of the pre-Wimbledon grass season on June 9)."
Roddick said that his brother had been feeling good on clay. "He was optimistic about the French and in a good frame of mind.
"This season he was feeling comfortable on the clay and he liked his chances. He's really disappointed not to be able to play."
Host Germany was trying to advance alongside the US, with deciding doubles against Spain due on court.
In singles, Feliciano Lopez levelled the tie at 1-1 with his defeat of Denis Gremelmayr, substituting for Nicolas Kiefer (ill) 6- 4, 6-3.
Germans Philipp Petzschner and Christopher Kas were hoping to clinch the tie as they faced Lopez and Marcel Granollers-Pujol.
"I played a good match," said Dubai finalist Lopez. "I knew it would be tough because Denis is a great fighter. When we heard Nicolas was not going to play, we were a little bit happy.
"If we play well in the doubles, I think we can make the final."
Sweden was in the same position as Spain, aiming to close out over Argentina in doubles through Robert Lindstedt and Robin Soderling taking on Lucas Arnold and Sebastien Prieto.
Juan Chela kept Argentina in the tie as he squared it 1-all, beating Thomas Johansson 6-2, 6-1.
