Injury hits U.S. Davis Cup doubles team

MADRID, Sept. 16 (UPI) -- American Bob Bryan, half of the world's No. 1-ranked doubles team, has withdrawn from this week's Davis Cup semifinal series with Spain.

Bryan and his twin brother Mike are 14-2 in doubles play in the often pivotal third match of the best-of-five Davis Cup series but a shoulder injury has forced Bob Bryan to withdraw. U.S. captain Patrick McEnroe replaced him with Mardy Fish.

It was the second change in a week for McEnroe, who turned to world No. 39 Sam Querrey to fill in when No. 10-ranked James Blake, citing exhaustion, pulled out of the series.

The United States, the defending Davis Cup champion, also has eighth-ranked Andy Roddick for singles play.

The U.S.-Spain Davis Cup semifinal is set for Friday-Sunday on a temporary clay court in Madrid. Spain is led by world No. 1 Rafael Nadal and fifth-ranked David Ferrer, with Fernando Verdasco (15th) and Feliciano Lopez (37th) also available.

The U.S.-Spain winner moves into the Davis Cup final against the winner of a semifinal between Russia and Argentina. The United States defeated Russia in last year's Davis Cup title series.