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U.S. Snaps Its Davis Cup Drought

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By ANNE M. PETERSON, The Associated Press

Published: December 2, 2007

Updated: 12/02/2007 12:33 am

PORTLAND, Ore. - Andy Roddick was loud, proud and reflective after helping the United States win its first Davis Cup title since 1995.

"To be here and to bring the Cup back to the States is just an amazing feeling," he said. "But more importantly, just to share the journey with these guys, it's been so much fun."

Roddick got the U.S. off to a fast start and brothers Bob and Mike Bryan finished the job Saturday, beating Russia's Nikolay Davydenko and Igor Andreev 7-6 (4), 6-4, 6-2 for the Americans' third straight win in the best-of-five final.

Roddick and Tampa's James Blake each won their singles matches Friday on the indoor hard court at Portland's Memorial Coliseum.

The once-dominant United States had not won the Davis Cup in 12 years, the longest span without an American victory. Pete Sampras last led the team to victory against Russia on clay in Moscow.

The United States now has 32 titles in the international team competition, dating to 1900.

After the victory, team captain Patrick McEnroe was asked if it was his best moment ever in tennis.

McEnroe started his reply: "It's not about me, it's about this whole group of guys ... " But he was interrupted by a jubilant Roddick.

"Say yes!" he shouted.

The U.S. had not taken the first three matches of a Davis Cup final since 1990 against Australia.

With Roddick and Blake looking on, both doubles teams held serve through the first set, forcing the tiebreaker. When the United States took a 5-3 lead, Andreev slammed his racket to the court.

Andreev double-faulted on the twins' second set point, and the top-ranked duo celebrated with their familiar chest bump.

Andreev and Davydenko had only been partnered once before as a doubles team in Davis Cup play, and often conferred over strategy. Davydenko, who came to the Davis Cup mired in an investigation into unusual betting patterns during a match in August, had played a doubles match only twice before this year.

When Bob Bryan's winning forehand at the net bounced over the heads of the Russians, Roddick and Blake poured onto the court and piled into a group embrace. The crowd chanted "U-S-A! U-S-A!"

The four players then ran a victory lap around the court with an American flag.

"No words can explain how we feel right now, except Woooooooo!" Mike Bryan exclaimed.

Andreev said it was the second set before he got a chance to return a second serve.

"So you can imagine if the guy's always serving first serve, it makes it so difficult because you cannot control the ball," he said. "You cannot do anything on the return."

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