By Anton Lagani, Lawn Tennis Correspondent, Posted: Wednesday, September 17, 2008 7:38pm PST USA

MADRID--(lawntennismag.com) Friday the American Davis Cup team will be without two of its scheduled players as Bob Bryan and James Blake both will miss the competition. In this weekend's Davis Cup semifinals, Bob Bryan was to play doubles with his brother Mike Bryan before he was sidelined. James Blake was set as singles player number two until he also withdrew. Blake pulled out with fatigue while Bob Bryan cited a left shoulder injury. Andy Roddick and Patrick McEnroe | Photo by Victor R. Caivano/AP

“There’s a possibility to beat him. It’s not a huge possibility,” McEnroe said. Blake pulled out with fatigue while Bob Bryan cited a left shoulder injury. Stepping in for the USA will be Mardy Fish and Sam Querrey. Fish will pair with Bryan in doubles while Querrey is to compete in singles. The Americans, the defending Davis Cup champions, initially faced tough odds in their tie versus Spain as they are to take on Spain at their homecourts on the Madrid red clay. The world number one Rafael Nadal, who has never lost a match at the French Open, is to lead the Spanish team. Filling out the Spanish team are David Ferrer, Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco. Former number one Andy Roddick is scheduled to play singles for the USA. Although the Spanish team boasts Nadal who holds a 121-3 claycourt record in his last 124 claycourt matches and number 5th ranked Ferrer, the American Davis Cup coach Patrick McEnroe remains optimistic. “There’s a possibility to beat him. It’s not a huge possibility,” McEnroe said. “Obviously we’re not going to outgrind Rafa Nadal on clay. If he’s tired, hopefully it’ll show up. We’re not really going to adjust our strategy but go out there and let it fly… and take our chances.”