Roddick to lead US in Davis Cup final
Updated: 2007-11-21 10:59
NEW YORK - World number six Andy Roddick will lead the United States against 2006 champions Russia in this month's Davis Cup final, the International Tennis Federation said on Tuesday.
As had been widely expected, Roddick will be joined by world number 13 James Blake and doubles specialists Bob and Mike Bryan for the three-day tie that starts on November 30 in Portland, Oregon.
The Americans, bidding for their first Davis Cup title in 12 years, are pinning their hopes on home advantage with the indoor surface at Memorial Coliseum.
"We love playing on indoor hard," Blake said. "We've had some of our best results there.
"I think for Andy and myself it's a great situation. We're feeling really good and we know we're going to have a raucous crowd on our side.
"I think the Bryans could play on Pluto and still be the favourites," Blake added in a conference call last week. "We could put it on just about anything and I like their chances."
The Russians, who beat Argentina for the title last year in Moscow, formally announced their team last week.
They will be represented in Portland by world number four Nikolay Davydenko, Mikhail Youzhny (19), Igor Andreev (33) and Dmitry Tursunov (34).
Team captains Patrick McEnroe of the US and Russian Shamil Tarpischev have the option to substitue a player up to one hour before the start of a match.
The Americans, hunting their first US Davis Cup triumph since 1995 on clay in Moscow, will be hosting the final for the first time since they beat Switzerland in Fort Worth, Texas in 1992.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
||
|
|
|
|