Flexibility will be the watchword for the Bryan brothers as they prepare for Saturday's doubles match against defending champions Russia in the Davis Cup final.
Although the Russians nominated world number four Nikolay Davydenko and Igor Andreev in Thursday's draw ceremony, the Americans believe that doubles pairing could be changed.
"I do not expect that to be the doubles team," US captain Patrick McEnroe told a news conference after Davydenko, Russia's top player, was surprisingly omitted from the singles.
"I don't think they probably even know who their doubles team will be. That will probably depend somewhat on what happens on Friday."
Dmitry Tursunov will take on American number one Andy Roddick in Friday's opening singles match at Memorial Coliseum, followed by Russia's Mikhail Youzhny against James Blake.
The dominant Bryan brothers, Bob and Mike, enter the fray on Saturday when they bid to win their 13th Davis Cup doubles match out of 14.
"Doubles is always in the spotlight in Davis Cup," Bob Bryan said. "It's the swing point, it's really pivotal. That's why we enjoy playing so much. Doubles is huge.
"We want to win that match for these guys up here," he added, pointing to team mates Andy Roddick and James Blake. "On Saturday it's going to be the biggest match of our career."
Whichever combination Russia throws at them, the Bryan brothers will be ready.
DOUBLES PREPARATION
"We know all four of these guys," Bob Bryan said, referring to the four-man Russian team. "We're going to be prepared for each one individually also."
Should they be pitted against Davydenko and Andreev, they expect their opponents to favour the baseline.
"They would be a team that would stay back a little more," Bob Bryan said. "I could see them serving, maybe on a first serve and second serve staying in, just ripping forehands, playing more of a singles type of game against us.
"We're going to prepare a little bit different. We have formulas figured out for that. We've played teams that play that style all through the last three years, especially with all the singles players entering doubles."
The Bryan brothers, winners of five grand slam titles together, have lost just one doubles match in the Davis Cup since making their debut against Slovakia in a World Group playoff in 2003.
In 2005, the Bryans were beaten in four sets by Croatian pairing Mario Ancic and Ivan Ljubicic in a first-round tie which the U.S. lost 3-2.
This week, they are part of an American team desperate to win the Davis Cup for the first time in 12 years.
"It's everything to be competing for this Davis Cup title," Bob Bryan said. "We've wanted to win this since we were 10 years old. You know, I'd trade any grand slam for this title."
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