This looks to have the potential to be a really good tie, with Blake, Roddick, Youzhny and Davydenko all seeming to be in good form here at the US Open.

I am really looking forward to this tie

Me too, WB. I really want to see the US team win, but I'm a bit nervous about it. The Russions seemed in good form at the USO, and they'll be the home team, and playing on clay. The US record on clay hasn't been that great lately.

I'm looking forward to this one too. Can i ask a question though - i read a comment somewhere (from an American) saying it looked like the Russians had chosen the surface against the Americans, rather than for them (as in, they chose it 'cos they know the Americans aren't too good on it, rather thn it's their favourite surface)

The question is, how have the Russians fared on clay this year? I know Safin went out in the first round of the French, but that's as good as I get.

Well, Davydenko has done well on clay this year. He has a couple titles at minor clay court events, plus he made the QF at the French Open and at one of the Masters events on clay.

I don't think Youzhny had done much on any surface, until his nice run at the USO.

The Americans have all performed quite poorly on clay this year. This is Russia's tie for the taking

I'm not so sure about that. Other than Davydenko, the Russian players haven't done much on clay either. And Blake, though he didn't go that far in the clay tourneys, have a few good wins on clay; Roddick is playing the best he has in some time. I think the Americans have a good shot, but I would certainly feel better about it on a different surface.

True. Its a shame Andreev isn't playing. I think it will be 3-2 but I can't decide who will win the tie

I think the Russians will win, just 'cos of the home advantage

I have to say I don't think it will be that close - I don't fancy either Roddick or Blake on Clay in a Russian atmosphere, not with Davydenko and Youznhy about.

4-1

Well, Davydenko is out of the China Open. I was hoping he'd make the final, and be well knackered for the DC tie. :whistle:

Of course, he did retire from the match. S'pose he's injured? :devil: Actually, I wouldn't hope for that. I want the US to win, but not because the other team is injured.

I thought that Blake played well at RG.. I saw him beat one of the Spaniards.. Almagro, I think.. James B played superbly in that match!

A-Rod now has the benefit of Connors' clay court nouce. I'd expect a pretty decent gameplan from him.

Marat. who knows which Marat will turn up?? Davydenko could feasibly be a tough nut to crack on that surface.

I'd say that the Brothers should win the doubles.. and I'd back James Blake to win at least one of his singles matches.

So i'd say 3-2.. which way, I don't know! :shrug:

Well, Safin's won his 1st match against Roddick, he seems to be in really good form. Blake's got a good chance of winning against Youzhny but will he be able to deal with the pressure now that they've lost the 1st match ? I think we can expect the Bryan brothers to win the doubles but the way Safin played today, he'll be the favourite against Blake on Sunday. Which means that this is a must-win for Blake.

C'mon Blake!! :bigwave:

I heard he had an early break, but it's 4-4 now in the first set.

Youzhny has beaten Blake in 4 sets. I can't see Russia losing this now. Blake would have to beat Safin and I don't think he will, unless Safin has a really horrible day. Also, Davydenko may play on Sunday instead of Youzhny which will make it tougher for Roddick. It will be a big shock if the USA make a comeback from here.

I wouldn't see a comeback as a "huge shock", but I admit it is unlikely. :(

Tursunov takes the 1st set against Roddick 6-3

Tursunov takes the 2nd set 6-4

Roddick takes the 4th set 7-5

Roddick wins the 4th set 6-3

we're into a decider...

Roddick is definitely fighting for this one! It's now 8-8 in the fifth.

:yikes:

Tursunov leads 10-9 (on serve).

Its 11-11

Roddick saves 2 MP in the 24th game of the 5th set

Wow! What a battle! It's 14-14 now.

If Roddick manages to pull this one out, I sure hope Blake can win his match and take the tie.

The live scoring has just gone down :yikes:

Tursunov won, 17-15 in the fifth. :( Great match, though.

:yahoo: :clap:

:devil: Sorry nick :whistle:

Reminiscent of Roddick's match with El Anaouyi in the AO in 2003, when he won 21-19 in the final set..

Bravo to the uberblogger Dmitry! And he hates clay too... I remember him complaining about having gathered a pound of clay in his underpants whilst playing on the red stuff... roflmao

Now I hope that Russia go on and win the whole thing.. :D

I think his actual statement was "clay is for girls" roflmao

Ah! If memory serves correctly, you have seen Dmitry, haven't you? Maybe at nottingham station?? I think that we even spoke about his blog, on the beeb somewhere, maybe?


Excerpt from his blog

Second hit is with Lukas Dlouhy. If you can pronounce his name it means one thing. You are Czech!!! His last name won’t save him this time though because I’m ready to practice!!! We warm up and start playing points. He is very cunning player because he likes to drop shot! The first time he drop shots I get there and my foot digs in instead of sliding so naturally instead of hitting the ball I decide to wipe off the court with my back. Hmmmm…. Okay… Now I have clay all over me, half a pound of it in my underwear, and I lost the point on top of it!!! I will not chase those stupid drop shots next time!!!


Oh, he's now a resident blogger on the ATP site!! I think that one day's blog consists purely of several lines of exclamation marks..

He's quite a character, isn't he... :lol:

No, i've never seen him. And i remembered the quote about getting clay in the underpants, but i loved his quote of clay is for girls!!!!

I don't know if we've spoken about his blog before - i think it's brilliant. He's so very very funny!!!

Ah.. maybe I am getting mixed up about seeing DT. :wacko: but i'm sure that we've talked about his blogs before.

One of my favourite lines was about him playing Knocking on Heaven's door in the car..

"On our ride back we finally break the sound barrier banging our heads to Guns N’ Roses’ – Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door. Luckily no one answered!!!"

and here's a transcript from a previous thread on CC.. :)

http://z3.invisionfree.com/Centre_Court/in...p?showtopic=662

Latest pearls of wisdom from Dmitry here, including the one of exclamation marks..

http://www.atptennis.com/1/en/blog/tursunov/

I don't know which is more amazing - that Tursunov won, or that he played at all!

I heard both Youzhny & Davydenko weren't 100% fit, anyone know more?