Porec, Croatia - James Blake will sharpen his focus in a Davis Cup quarter-final opening challenge with Croatian serving machine Ivo Karlovic as the US aims for a first victory Friday after two losses to the Europeans. Blake and late substitute Fish will lead the singles attack at the Zatika sports hall on indoor clay laid down by the hosts to try and thwart the 32-times champions.
Blake will get a huge test in the opening rubber after Thursday's draw when he faces the huge serve of Ivo Karlovic, with Fish to follow against Marin Cilic.
Blake stands 2-3 against Karlovic and 2-0 over Cilic while Fish stands 1-5 combined against the opposition.
"One of the biggest things is really taking care of your serve," said Blake, 7-8 in live singles matches. "If we get into tiebreakers, I just need to stay the course and be ready to take advantage of any opportunity.
"It could be one or two points in each set that decide everything."
Andy Roddick is missing from the weekend's action as he heals a hip flexor injury and the emotional stress of losing the Wimbledon final to Roger Federer.
Croatia may have the choice of surface, but the hosts are also without a pivotal player as Mario Ancic continues his recovery from the glandular fever which has plagued him for nearly two years.
The hosts have won 10 of their last 11 home ties.
The absence of Roddick will not be missed by Croatians: "We'll try to take advantage of Roddick not being here," said captain Goran Prpic. "But we are not the favourites.
"People think we only have to walk on the court, and that's it.
"This tie is wide-open. We have quality, but so does the US team. We can win all four singles matches, and we can lose all four."
American skipper Patrick McEnroe agreed with his opposite number. "Playing at home gives Croatia an advantage, but we have lots of Davis Cup experience experience so I think it's an even tie."
Spain is missing Rafael Nadal after the world number two was unable to get his tendinitis-plagued knees ready for the weekend tie against Germany in Marbella.
Juan Carlos Ferrero also joined the lineup as he replaced injured David Ferrer. Germany is missing Wimbledon semi-finalist Tommy Haas and will go with Philipp Kohlschreiber, Nicolas Kiefer, Andreas Beck and Mischa Zverev.
In opening-day matches, Fernando Verdasco plays Beck while Tommy Robredo takes on Kohlschreiber.
Igor Kunitsyn replaces injured Dmitry Tursunov for Russia against Israel in Tel Aviv and will team with Marat Safin in doubles as the former number one plays for one of the last times in Davis Cup.
Harel Levy opens for Israel against Igor Andreev with Dudi Sela taking on Mikhail Youzhny.
World number five Juan Del Potro leads three-time runner-up Argentina against the Czechs in Ostrava.
Del Potro plays the second rubber against Ivo Minar, who replaced Radek Stepanek, still struggling with a knee injury from Wimbledon. Czech Tomas Berdych tackles Juan Monaco to start.
