March 28, 2000
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. - Former Stanford stars Jared Palmer and Alex O'Brien will represent the United States against the Czech Republic in the 2000 Davis Cup by NEC quarterfinal at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, Calif., U.S. Davis Cup Captain and fellow Stanford product John McEnroe announced today.
Palmer and O'Brien will join Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi on the U.S. team that will compete in this quarterfinal tie, which will be played April 7-9.
"Jared and Alex have demonstrated that they are the top American doublesteam and deserve to represent the United States in this tie," said McEnroe. "They are also fresh off a recent convincing win at the Australian Open over Jiri Novak and David Rikl, who we are expecting to play doubles for the Czechs."
Palmer and O'Brien, teammates at Stanford University in 1990 and '91, most recently won the doubles title at the Tennis Masters Series in Indian Wells, Calif. They also reached the semifinals of the 2000 Australian Open, defeating Rikl and Novak 6-1, 6-3 in the quarterfinals.
Palmer, 28, is currently the No. 1 doubles player in the ATP Tour Entry System and, in addition to his doubles title in Indian Wells with O'Brien, won the doubles title this year in Scottsdale, Ariz., with Richey Reneberg. Palmer holds 15 ATP Tour doubles titles, including the 1995 Australian Open doubles title with Reneberg. He has played in four Davis Cup ties, all in1994 and 1995, and holds a 3-2 career Davis Cup record (2-2 in doubles). Palmer was tthe NCAA Singles Champion in 1991 a two-time All-American on The Farm (1990 & 1991).
O'Brien, 30, and currently the No. 2 doubles player in the ATP Tour Entry System, is the reigning doubles champion at the US Open and ATP Tour World Championships, winning both titles last year with Sebastien Lareau of Canada. O'Brien is appearing on his fourth straight U.S. Davis Cup team and on his fifth overall. He holds a 2-4 career Davis Cup record (1-3 in doubles) and owns 12 career ATP Tour doubles titles. At Stanford, O'Brien was a Four Time All-American (1989-92) and was an NCAA singles and doubles champion (w/Chris Cocotos) in 1992.