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(February 17, 2010) It may not be the deepest American team in recent years, but it is undoubtedly the longest.

United States Davis Cup captain Patrick McEnroe announced today 6'9" John Isner, 6'6" Sam Querrey and twins Mike Bryan and Bob Bryan will represent the USA in the Davis Cup World Group first round tie against Serbia, March 5-7, on an indoor red clay court at the Beogradska Arena in Belgrade, Serbia.

It marks the first time since 2000 that neither Andy Roddick nor James Blake will be on the U.S. team — a span of 25 ties. Both Roddick and Blake have opted out of playing this season to focus on tournament play.

World No. 2 Novak Djokovic is expected to lead a Serbian squad that will feature two-time Wimbledon doubles champion Nenad Zimonjic.

"Even though it won't be Andy, the (No. 7) player in the world out there, Sam and I are more than capable of disrupting anybody's game,'' Isner said. ''And with the Bryan brothers, I really think we can do well even at Serbia, on clay, against (Djokovic) and whoever else they may decide to throw against us. I really think we have a good shot.''

Isner will be making his Davis Cup debut and Querrey will make his second appearance on the U.S. Davis Cup team, having played in the 2008 semifinal versus Spain in Madrid where he won the opening set from four-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal before falling in four sets.

"We are very excited about John and Sam joining the Bryans to lead our Davis Cup team," said McEnroe, who has led the U.S. to a 16-8 record since taking over the team in 2001 and is now second all-time for most wins by a U.S. Davis Cup Captain behind Tom Gorman (18). "Both guys have really stepped up their games and are more than ready to take on the challenge of going on the road to face Serbia. We have had great commitment from our players in the past and expect the same from John and Sam in the years ahead."

The United States and Serbia have never faced each other in Davis Cup competition. The U.S. reached the Davis Cup quarterfinals last year, defeating Switzerland in the first round, before losing at Croatia.

The United States holds a 208-63 all-time Davis Cup record and the longest uninterrupted run in the World Group, dating back to 1989.

It may well be the most important tie in Serbia's Davis Cup history.

Serbia is seeking its first World Group win and will be highly motivated to beat the USA, particularly since Serbia's Fed Cup team lost to Russia in Belgrade in its Fed Cup World Group debut earlier this month.

"It’s going to be a great atmosphere," Zimonjic told the Davis Cup.com "It’s good that we play indoors so the weather is not going to be a factor and the crowd is going to be behind us, that’s for sure, because it’s a big event. A team like United States coming to Belgrade, one of the best team’s ever in tennis."

Isner and Querrey are playing doubles in Memphis this week. Both are lethal servers with forceful forehands, who will try to play first-strike tennis and conclude points quickly on what is likely to be a very slow red clay surface as Serbia will seek to slow down the pair of power players. Roddick has been the American leader and key closer in clinching Davis Cup ties. He went undefeated during the 2007 season to lead the USA to its record-extending 32nd Davis Cup championship.

In the absence of Roddick, the Bryan twins are assuming a leadership role in trying to help Isner and Querrey adapt to the pressures of Davis Cup competition.

"Andy has always been the leader of the team. We've always looked to him for support and experience," Bob Bryan said. "He's been incredibly clutch on the Sundays. Now we're kind of stepping into that role as team leaders and the veterans. Hopefully we can help settle the nerves of Isner and Querrey. Those guys are going to be eager to play. They're extremely clutch. John played in college. He plays the big points awesome. Sam Querrey can beat anyone at any time. So, I mean we're the underdogs, but we're going to give it hell and we're going to have fun."

Photo Credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve